A sawbuck says you were not expecting to read Mike LaCoss' name in the first paragraph of a Giants story anytime in the 21st century, yet there it is, standing out like Buffy's red hair.
LaCoss holds the San Francisco record with 10 consecutive road losses. Jonathan Sanchez could have tied him Tuesday night, but instead he pitched his best game of the year this side of the no-hitter in an 8-1 Giants victory.
Sanchez blanked the Astros on four hits with eight strikeouts over seven innings to win for the first time this year in 12 road games. He was 0-8 with a 6.33 ERA. That he dominated a decent lineup away from China Basin bodes well for a rotation that can use a lift down the stretch no matter how good it is at the top.
"That's huge for us," manager Bruce Bochy said. "To lose Randy Johnson, you need somebody to soften the blow. That's what he can do for us. Sanchy is going to be a key for us. We know it."
Sanchez's last away win had been Sept. 12 at San Diego, when he beat Jake Peavy.
On Tuesday, he defeated Felipe Paulino, a 25-year-old whom the Giants have battered for 14 runs in 61/3 innings this year. Paulino started because Roy Oswalt has a bad back - lucky Giants - and did not last five innings.
The Giants backed Sanchez with 16 hits, one off their season high. All nine starters hit safely including Sanchez, who singled off Doug Brocail's pitching hand for his first hit in 41 at-bats over nearly 14 months.
Aaron Rowand drove in three runs from the seventh spot with a two-run single and a double. Struggling cleanup hitter Bengie Molina had his first three-hit game since July 19 and first two-RBI game since July 9. His two-out RBI double in the first inning set the offense in motion.
Eugenio Velez added a double and two singles to his new mystique and another game to his hit streak, now 11 games. After hitting three home runs in their first 18 games of the second half, the Giants belted two in the span of three pitches against left-hander Wesley Wright in the sixth.
Freddy Sanchez hit his first as a Giant, nearly clearing the railroad tracks above left field. Pablo Sandoval followed with his team-leading 17th, a liner deep into the short-porch Crawford Boxes in left. Sandoval left the game with mild pain in his side but is expected to play today.
Not playing will be Molina, who will rest after a good offensive game that he absolutely needed.
"It felt great. I haven't felt that way in awhile," Molina said. "Every time I've been hitting the ball, I feel like I've got 14 guys out there catching them and I'm facing two or three pitchers at a time. It hasn't been fun for me.
"Hopefully, all my hits are being saved for the end of the season."
This game could have looked much different after Jonathan Sanchez walked a pair in the first inning had Miguel Tejada's blistering drive to left field been a few feet to the left. It might have reached the Crawford Boxes and given Houston a 3-1 lead. Instead, it sailed just right of the boxes and Velez was able to glove it at the 90-degree angle.
Thereafter, Sanchez did not allow an Astro to reach second base. He cannot explain his road issues this season, but said a better slider contributed to his success in Texas.
Last year, Sanchez was a cipher in the second half. He wants it to be much different this year.
"I hope I can get more wins and give the team a chance to win more games," he said. "We're thinking of the playoffs. That's what we're doing. We're playing like we want to go there."
Wild-card standings
| W | L | GB | |
| Rockies | 59 | 47 | - |
| Giants | 59 | 48 | 1/2 |
| Cubs* | 57 | 48 | 11/2 |
| Cardinals* | 59 | 50 | 11/2 |
| Marlins | 55 | 51 | 4 |
* tied for NL Central lead
 San Francisco (59-48) Won 1 | San Francisco 8, Houston 1 |  Houston (53-54) Lost 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Standings thru 8/4/09 | Recap: SF | HOU | Wrap | Gameday |
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