Velez's clutch hit lifts Giants over San Diego in 10

By ANDREW BAGGARLY
SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS

last updated: August 02, 2008 04:23:25 AM

SAN DIEGO -- The San Francisco Giants' lineup had a new look and the club a new direction Friday night. Eugenio Velez insisted he be part of it. Ivan Ochoa, too.

Left out of a lineup that was manager Bruce Bochy's first sincere concession toward youth, Velez came off the bench and struck the winning hit.

The bullpen had blown another dominant start by Tim Lincecum, but Velez's double off Padres closer Trevor Hoffman in the 10th inning powered the Giants to a 3-2 victory at Petco Park.

Ochoa made it stand up. In his fourth career start, the shortstop bailed out Brian Wilson by gloving Kevin Kouzmanoff's hard shot up the middle with the bases loaded, contorting his body and turning an athletic step-and-throw double play to end the game.

Velez made himself relevant against baseball's all-time saves leader, lining a shot into the right-field corner in the 10th.

In perhaps the most striking lineup change, Bochy moved Fred Lewis from the leadoff spot to the No. 3 hole, where the Giants hope he can develop into a run-producing threat.

Lewis hit a sacrifice fly in the first inning, snapping the club's streak of 23 innings without a run. Lewis also scored on a passed ball in the fourth.

It was enough support as long as Lincecum was on the mound.

He struck out 11 while holding an equally challenged Padres lineup to three hits over seven innings. He has 24 strikeouts over his past 14 innings to give him 167 this season, the most in the majors.

But the bullpen blew a five-run lead in Lincecum's previous start, and they doomed him to another no-decision when Jack Taschner gave up a tying, solo home run to Adrian Gonzalez in the eighth inning.

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