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| Holm's first career homer leads Giants past Phillies SAN FRANCISCO 4, PHILADELPHIA 3 |
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By Al Barba PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) - Rookie catcher Steve Holm picked the perfect time to connect for his first major league home run. Holm hit the first pitch he saw from J.C. Romero in the seventh inning over the left-center field fence for a two-run home run that lifted the San Francisco Giants to a 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday. Not only did Holm's home run win the game, it also came on Mother's Day with his mom, Bobbie, in attendance. "My parents, my mom, was down here for Mother's Day and my grandparents were down here as well" said Holm, who grew up 90 minutes away in Sacramento. The Giants trailed, 3-2, in the in the inning after squandering three scoring opportunities off Phillies starter Adam Eaton, who gave up two runs and five hits in five innings. San Francisco twice loaded the bases with no outs and had runners on first and third with one out only to have Jose Castillo hit into a double play each time. Holm, a 28-year old rookie who spent eight years in the minor leagues, had entered the game in the top half the inning after starting catcher Bengie Molina was pinch-run for in the bottom of the sixth. With two out in the seventh, Randy Winn singled and came home when Holm delivered his first career blast to left off Romero (3-1) to provide the final margin. "It was a fastball, a little up," Holm said. "You're just going to be as aggressive as you can be, and that is what they tell you when you come in off the bench and that is what I tried to be." "I know he came up ready to hit and I guess I wasn't ready to make a pitch," Romero said. "He took advantage of it and good for him. I've got to be in somebody's book for the first time so good for him. Congratulations." Giants manager Bruce Bochy had no reservations about pinch-running for Molina and inserting Holm into the game. "I couldn't be happier, it was a game-winner," Bochy said. "He has done a great job. He has caught well. I think he has really helped us with the bat, too. We have all the confidence in the world in this kid." The two-run homer made a winner out of Jack Taschner (2-0). Tyler Walker tossed a scoreless eighth and closer Brian Wilson shut the door in the ninth for his 11th save for the Giants, who snapped their four-game slide. "The bullpen saved us," Bochy said. "What a job they did. Starting with (Billy) Sadler, Taschner and, of course, Walker and Wilson. They are the reason we won that ballgame." The Phillies grabbed a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning, scoring twice against San Francisco starter Jonathan Sanchez. Chase Utley walked with one out and tied the game when he scored on Ryan Howard's triple. Pat Burrell followed with a sacrifice fly to right to plate Howard. San Francisco had taken a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning when Molina scored from third on a double-play groundout off the bat of Castillo. Molina had two hits and scored twice to lead the Giants. For the second straight game, Sanchez failed to make it through five innings due to a lack of command. He allowed three runs and four hits with five walks in 4 1/3 frames. "(Sanchez) was battling himself," Bochy said. "He was working hard and throwing a lot of pitches. He was out if sync. His pitch count (89) was mounting up and that is why I had to get him. "He just seemed like he had a tough time getting into rhythm and his command was off. He had good stuff but he just had trouble pounding the strike zone." |
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