Giants start producing runs, but pitching fails

GIANTS LOSE 10-9...Comeback falls short

John Shea - San Francisco Chronicle

The merriment on the mound, which lasted three straight games for Giants starters, ended in a hurry Saturday night. After Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum and Jonathan Sanchez pitched consecutive gems, Kevin Correia lasted only nine pitches.

Correia flinched on pitch No. 9 and gingerly walked off the mound, favoring his left side. He was pulled from the game and diagnosed with an oblique strain, an injury that has been known to shelf players for several weeks, though no initial timetable was available. He was to have an MRI exam late Saturday.

In Correia's absence, manager Bruce Bochy emptied much of his bullpen, but the relievers were unable to prevent a steady stream of Reds rallies, and the Giants (despite scoring four runs in the ninth) fell 10-9 to lose their brief grip on second place, where they lingered for the first time since May 5, 2007.

In the previous three games, starters gave up two runs in 211/3 innings. The Giants won them all despite scoring just seven times. Saturday, the Giants reached a season high in runs and received home runs from Fred Lewis - the Giants' first bay shot since Barry Bonds' on Aug. 8 - and Rich Aurilia, his second in three games.

But six pitchers gave up 14 hits, seven for extra bases, and that's tough to beat.

"We went through the pen pretty good today. We may have to adjust. We'll see," Bochy said.

Will the Giants add another pitcher? Looking ahead, if Correia's absence is prolonged, they don't need a replacement starter until May 10 because of upcoming off days. So a four-man rotation can be used, if necessary, for the next two weeks. Barry Zito, who's looking not to extend his record to 0-6, will start today's series finale and would do the bullpen a favor by pitching a lot of innings.

Brad Hennessey replaced Correia and gave up three runs, as did Keiichi Yabu and Jack Taschner. "I'm getting ready to watch the game, and all of a sudden, they call for you," Hennessey said. "You've got to be ready all the time, I guess."

Lewis opened the fifth inning by smashing Matt Belisle's first pitch into McCovey Cove, the 46th time a Giant reached the water on the fly. Bonds pulled 35 of them, and it was anyone's guess when, or if, someone on the 2008 roster would create a splash. Lewis did it in the Giants' 12th home game.

He also tripled (with an assist from left fielder Adam Dunn, who probably should have caught the ball) and singled. Needing a double to complete his second career cycle, he drew a walk in the ninth and scored on Eugenio Velez's two-run triple.

"Being the first out of the rookies (to reach McCovey Cove), I was happy I got it out of the way," Lewis said. "All the young guys were talking about who'd be the first to hit it. Boom, there it was. I never even did it in batting practice."

Lewis grew up a fan of Ken Griffey Jr. and has noticed his game accelerate in Junior's presence. Lewis hit a grand slam last year in Cincinnati, over Griffey's head, just like Saturday's homer.

"Just being on the field today and yesterday with Griffey, I was very excited," Lewis said. "I met him for the first time last year, and when I'm on the field with him, I try to do my best."

In the ninth, Steve Holm and Jose Castillo opened with doubles. After Lewis walked, closer Francisco Cordero was summoned for his third save opportunity, and Velez tripled to make the score 10-8. Randy Winn bounced out to score Velez, but Cordero retired Daniel Ortmeier on a grounder and struck out Ray Durham to end it.