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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