Padilla Pitches Gem as Phils End Losing Skid

SAN FRANCISCO — Reggie Sanders snapped a seventh-inning tie with a solo homer as the San Francisco Giants posted a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Sanders belted a hanging curveball from Ricky Bottalico (0-2) deep into the left field seats, helping the Giants, who collected just four hits, win the rubber game of the three-game series.

The home run came after Bottalico struck out Jeff Kent and J.T. Snow.

"(Giants manager Dusty Baker) told me last night I wasn't going to play," Sanders said. "I didn't know I'd be playing until I got to the clubhouse. I found out I was in, so I played. Obviously. It's a good feeling to come through in that position."

"I had planned to give Reggie Sanders a day off because he was struggling," Baker said. "Then Barry Bonds came in a little sore, so I gave him the day off and put Reggie back in. I've been trying to juggle things around, but it's hard to juggle when everyone is struggling. I hope it gets him going. He's prone to streaks."

Bonds entered the contest as part of a double switch in the top of the eighth but did not bat.

Felix Rodriguez (1-2) recorded the win with a scoreless inning in relief of Russ Ortiz, who allowed only one run and five hits over 6 2/3 innings.

"A pitcher can't worry about what the offense is doing," Ortiz said. "My job is to put zeros on the board. When I came out, they had no runs. That's what is supposed to happen."

With an off day Thursday, Giants closer Robb Nen entered with two outs in the eighth and recorded the final four outs for his eighth save.

Philadelphia starter Terry Adams also pitched well, giving up an unearned run and just three hits over six innings.

Sanders also scored the Giants' first run after leading off the fifth with a single. He moved to second on a wild pitch, took third when Adams misplayed Tsuyoshi Shinjo's comebacker and came home when Yorvit Torrealba grounded into a double play.

"The team has been down a bit offensively, so every run is important," Sanders said. "Our pitching has been outstanding."

The Phillies tied the contest in the seventh on singles by Marlon Anderson, Travis Lee and pinch hitter Ricky Ledee.

Shinjo may have prevented a big inning in the seventh as he tracked down Pat Burrell's drive on the warning track in right-center field prior to Ledee's hit.

"That one was a tough one to lose, especially as well as our guys pitched," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said. "We let in one run on a wild pitch, an error and double play. The other was a mistake with two outs."

The Phillies were unable to build on Tuesday's win and have dropped seven of their last eight. They have lost 11 of their last 13 contests and have just one victory in their last 10 road games.

The Giants won for the just the second time in their last seven outings and took a series for the first time since winning two of three from the Houston Astros on April 19-21.

The Giants have won 14 of their last 16 contests against the Phillies in San Francisco, including a 10-2 mark at Pacific Bell Park.

ComcastSportsNet.com wire services