Sun May 11 19:24:54 2008

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Holm's first career homer propels Giants past Phillies

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San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Steve Holm's first major league home run in the bottom of the seventh inning drove in the winning run, as the San Francisco Giants edged the Philadelphia Phillies, 4-3, in the rubber match at AT&T Park.

Jonathan Sanchez gave up three runs on four hits with five walks in 4 1/3 innings. Jack Taschner (2-0) pitched a scoreless seventh to pick up the win.

Bengie Molina doubled and scored two runs for the Giants, who have won two straight on the heels of a season-high five-game skid. John Bowker went 2- for-3 and knocked in a run.

Adam Eaton gave up two runs on five hits with five walks and four strikeouts over five-plus innings. J.C. Romero (3-1) allowed two runs in the seventh to absorb the loss.

Ryan Howard had an RBI triple for the Phillies, who have dropped three of their last four games. Philadelphia was limited to only six hits in the loss.

Trailing 3-2 in the seventh, Randy Winn lined a two-out single off Romero to keep the inning alive. Holm then hammered the first pitch he saw from Romero over the wall in left field.

Brian Wilson worked around a one-out single by Greg Dobbs in the ninth to notch his 11th save of the season.

The Giants jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Molina led off with a single, advanced to second on a walk to Aaron Rowand and crossed the plate when Bowker hit a bloop single over the outstretched left arm of shortstop Jimmy Rollins.

A two-out double by Pedro Feliz in the top of the fourth put runners on second and third and the Giants decided to intentionally walk Carlos Ruiz with Eaton due up next. The move proved costly as Eaton drew a walk to bring in Pat Burrell, who was given a free pass earlier in the frame.

San Francisco loaded the bases in the home half and reclaimed the lead when Jose Castillo grounded into a 4-3 double play.

The Phillies answered with two runs in the fifth to take a 3-2 lead. Chase Utley drew a one-out walk and Howard followed with a stand-up triple that chased Sanchez from the game. Billy Sadler took over on the mound and Burrell greeted him with a sacrifice fly to put the visitors ahead.

The Giants squandered a glorious opportunity with the bases loaded in the sixth. Eaton's first pitch of the inning nailed Molina and Emmanuel Burriss entered as a pinch runner. Rowand then sliced a double over the head of Jayson Werth in right. Durbin relieved the maddeningly inconsistent Eaton and hit Bowker to load the bases.

Castillo lined a scorcher to Howard, who turned the unassisted double play. Following an intentional walk to Omar Vizquel, Durbin struck out pinch- hitter Ray Durham to end the threat.

Game Notes

Howard recorded his first triple since June 20, 2006...The two clubs split the season series, 3-3...San Francisco improved to 9-9 in games decided by one run...The Giants left nine men on base, while the Phillies stranded seven...Attendance was 35,999.