Klesko Splashes First Homer For Giants

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ Ryan Klesko splashed his first home run of the year into the bay, showing quite a sign of the power that hasn't been there for the last two seasons. <br/><br/>Klesko also doubled

Tuesday, May 22nd 2007, 7:19 am

By: News On 6

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ Ryan Klesko splashed his first home run of the year into the bay, showing quite a sign of the power that hasn't been there for the last two seasons.

Klesko also doubled and played great defense, Randy Winn extended his career-best hitting streak to 20 games and Noah Lowry pitched seven shutout innings in San Francisco's 4-0 victory over the Houston Astros on Monday night.

Klesko, who missed most of 2006 recovering from shoulder surgery, was starting to become a little concerned seeing as Houston pitcher Woody Williams has homered and Giants teammate and leadoff hitter Dave Roberts has two and is currently on the disabled list.

``Every time I hit one it seems like it's a triple,'' he said with a grin. ``It's nice to get that first home run. I've been feeling good at the plate the last couple of weeks. It's just a great day today all around.''

In other NL games, it was: Milwaukee 9, Los Angeles Dodgers 5; Arizona 6, Colorado 5; and Cincinnati 8, Washington 7.

Klesko's leadoff drive in the eighth was the 43rd splash hit by a Giants player and his second after also reaching McCovey Cove in 2003 with the San Diego Padres. It was Klesko's first homer since Sept. 26, 2005.

Bengie Molina blooped a two-run single in the sixth and Ray Durham also drove in a run with a groundout to help Lowry (5-4) beat the Astros in a rematch of Wednesday's meeting between the left-hander and Houston's Chris Sampson.

Carlos Lee doubled twice but the Astros managed little else against Lowry.

``I started off a little out of rhythm, but I found it real quick and was able to stick with it,'' he said. ``They hit some hard balls tonight but hit them at guys.''

Winn doubled to start the sixth and his streak is the longest by a Giants player since Robby Thompson's 21-gamer in 1993. It's also the longest current streak in the majors after Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips' 22-game hitting streak ended Monday night.

Bonds went 0-for-2 with two walks in his second straight hitless game, still stuck at 745 home runs and 10 from tying Hank Aaron's career record of 755.

He lined out to right leading off the second then walked on five pitches in the fourth with one out and Klesko on third, drawing loud boos from the crowd. Bonds bounced a short grounder to Sampson in the sixth but first baseman Lance Berkman failed to catch the ball and Bonds reached on the error to load the bases for Durham. He walked again in the eighth.

``That's how much respect he gets,'' Giants manager Bruce Bochy said of the 46th and 47th free passes to the slugger. ``We all know and the other team knows he is so dangerous, and he's still going to get his walks. ... Barry carried us early, so it's good to see we are getting production throughout the lineup.''

Bonds, coming off a road trip in which he batted .185 (5-for-27) with no homers and no RBIs, hasn't homered in 11 games since connecting for his 11th of the season May 8 against the Mets.

Lowry, who followed Matt Morris' two-hitter Sunday at Oakland, ended a two-start losing streak, allowing six hits with three strikeouts and three walks. Brad Hennessey tossed a 1-2-3 eighth and Armando Benitez pitched a perfect ninth.

``He doesn't miss,'' Houston's Craig Biggio said of Lowry. ``He's put it together. He pitches us tough.''

Sampson (4-4) won last week despite eight strong innings by Lowry in which he allowed two runs and eight hits. Sampson went six innings Monday, allowing three runs _ one earned _ and five hits. He got the first hit off Lowry with a two-out single in the third.

Brewers 9, Dodgers 5

Prince Fielder hit two home runs and Rickie Weeks had a career-high four hits in his return to Milwaukee's lineup.

Weeks, who missed the previous four games because of a sore right wrist, hit safely his first four times up _ including an RBI double in the third. Johnny Estrada added a solo homer for visiting Milwaukee.

Jeff Suppan (6-4) allowed four runs and six hits in six-plus innings to get the win.

Jeff Kent and Luis Gonzalez homered for the host Dodgers. Brett Tomko (1-5) allowed five runs and eight hits in 5 1-3 innings.

Diamondbacks 6, Rockies 5

Carlos Quentin homered twice and drove in a career-high five runs, and Arizona rallied to get the win.

Chris Snyder went 3-for-3, and Tony Clark also homered for the host Diamondbacks.

Quentin, who entered hitting .189, drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly off Jeremy Affeldt (1-1) in the eighth inning.

Brad Hawpe homered for Colorado, which has lost six of its last eight to fall a season-high nine games under .500 (18-27).

Doug Slaten (2-0) earned the victory with a scoreless eighth inning. Jose Valverde pitched the ninth for his 17th save in 19 chances.

Reds 8, Nationals 7

Javier Valentin's pinch-hit, two-run homer in the eighth inning rallied the Reds to a victory over visiting Washington, which suffered its biggest blown lead of the season.

Valentin's homer off Jon Rauch (2-1) was set up by a misplay characteristic of the NL's worst team. Center fielder Nook Logan and right fielder Austin Kearns let Scott Hatteberg's fly drop for an RBI double ahead of Valentin's homer.

Jon Coutlangus (2-0) retired the four batters he faced, and David Weathers finished for his ninth save in 10 chances.

Hatteberg homered and drove in four runs as Cincinnati overcame a six-run deficit. Ken Griffey Jr. added a solo homer, the 572nd of his career. Griffey is one behind Harmon Killebrew for eighth place on the list.

Kearns and Ryan Zimmerman homered for the Nationals.