Molina's homers ease home blues

Henry Schulman - San Francisco Chronicle (SFGate)

Last time the Washington Nationals came to San Francisco, a zillion members of the press were here - something about somebody hitting his 756th home run. It was much more sedate Tuesday night.

"I don't think ESPN is going to televise this game here," just-activated outfielder Dave Roberts said.

Too bad. The network could have seen Bengie Molina channel Barry Bonds and the Giants accomplish something they rarely do at home: win a ballgame. Molina hit two home runs in a 6-3 victory after failing to go deep since May 27, a drought of 160 at-bats.

Manager Bruce Bochy said he had seen signs Molina was about to bust out of his 7-for-53 slump after making a mechanical adjustment with his hands.

Molina said his work with batting coach Carney Lansford helped and added he has seen the ball better lately.

"I've been through a lot," Molina said. "Having a game like today, I'm not saying how it's going to end up, but it's a step up and a boost of confidence."

Fred Lewis also homered, Barry Zito improved to 5-12 and Omar Vizquel contributed an RBI double and a nice catch on a line drive, hours after a meeting in which Bochy and general manager Brian Sabean explained that the team plans to give Emmanuel Burriss more starts at short after next week's trade deadline.

Eugenio Velez, who will get most of the playing time at second base in Ray Durham's absence, hit an infield single, stole a base and scored a run. When Burriss replaced Velez for defense in the ninth, he made a terrific diving catch to rob Cristian Guzman of a line hit to center, helping Brian Wilson earn his 26th save.

Zito allowed three runs in six innings against one of the four teams he already beat this year. His most critical moment was a strikeout of Jesus Flores to strand a pair in the fifth with the Giants leading 5-3.

"I was bad for a few hitters and good when I had to be," Zito said after improving to 96-5 when getting at least four or more runs of support.

Jack Taschner walked a pair in the seventh, but Sergio Romo retired the last two batters, striking out Austin Kearns on a nasty front-door slider. Tyler Walker pitched a scoreless eighth.

The Giants got off to a powerful start. After homering twice in their previous 12 games, they hit two in the first inning against Jason Bergmann. Lewis opened the game with his first homer since June 16. After Velez hit an infield single, Molina hit his first HR of the night.

Bergmann is no slouch. He had a 1.91 ERA over his previous five starts and in May, pitched more than 19 consecutive shutout innings over three games against the Mets, Phillies and Brewers.

Yet the Giants had him down 3-0. Molina homered again in the fourth.

After the game, backup catcher Eliezer Alfonzo said he was told he was being demoted to Triple-A Fresno. Steve Holm likely will return.

The Giants' youth movement makes over the middle infield. D5

Project Youth

Manager Bruce Bochy, on the Giants' shedding of years:

Second base: The brass has decided that Eugenio Velez -- will get most of the starts now that Ray Durham is gone. The organization had been pushing Velez into the outfield but changed its thinking.

"You have to adjust," Bochy said. "With Ray leaving, we think Velez is a more offensive player. We need to add some offense."

Shortstop: Bochy informed Omar Vizquel on Tuesday that once the trade deadline passes on July 31, Emmanuel Burriss will get more starts. Bochy has said this before, but this time it sounds like he means it.

"Omar was fine with it. He understands," Bochy said. "He wants to help these young players, too."

Outfield: Bochy planned to start just-activated Dave Roberts -- in left field tonight, but the organization still views Fred Lewis as the starting left fielder. Roberts could get more starts if Lewis' bunions force him out of the lineup.

Roberts said, "I can't write myself in the lineup. What I know is that I'm healthy. If I'm in the lineup, I expect to play well. If Freddie is going to play, Freddie is going to play. I'm not going to cause any trouble. I'm going to play baseball and help the Giants win."

Bochy also said center fielder Aaron Rowand and right fielder Randy Winn will get more days off the rest of the way, opening spots for Roberts. Bochy added, "We're still going to be playing to win. You never know in this division. I think they'll be better players if they get days off. If I give them days off, it doesn't mean I'm conceding anything."