Four runs down? No problem

HOUSTON – Injuries and ineffectiveness have kept Aubrey Huff from contributing to the 2012 Giants, but the veteran has kept a watchful eye on his teammates during his three trips to the disabled list. And he likes what he sees.

"It reminds me of the 2010 (championship) team," Huff said Thursday afternoon. "In 2010, you went out every day and you would feel like you were going to win, and that's what it feels like now.

"I think the lineup is better than it was that year, too."

The Giants proved that again Thursday night, riding a team-wide hitting spree to an 8-4 victory over the Houston Astros that clinched a second straight road sweep. Nine Giants had a hit, eight scored a run, and six drove in a run as the Giants overcame a shaky start.

The four-run comeback was the Giants' biggest of the season.

"We haven't had a lot of games like this," manager Bruce Bochy said. "Everybody did something to help the cause."

The contributions began with starting pitcher Ryan Vogelsong, who put the Giants in an early 4-0 hole a night after they needed six relievers to close out the second game of the series.

But Vogelsong hung tough, getting through the sixth inning for the 23rd time in 25 starts and allowing the lineup to get in gear.

"I was just kind of off early with everything – mechanics, tempo, everything was out of whack," said Vogelsong, who improved to 12-7. "I had to keep them off the board. I knew I had to find a way to throw up zeros."

Vogelsong put up three consecutive scoreless innings before exiting for a pinch hitter in the seventh. By that time, the Giants had cut the deficit to 4-3 thanks to RBIs from Angel Pagan, Marco Scutaro and Pablo Sandoval.

"Everything just kind of fell into place," Vogelsong said.

The Giants felt the same way at the plate. They wasted an early bases-loaded, none-out opportunity, but they didn't stop clawing. In all, the Giants had 15 hits, including Sandoval's single in the seventh that tied the score.

Hunter Pence followed with a single that scored two runs, and Joaquin Arias made it 7-4 with a homer to left field in the eighth.

Brandon Belt was in the middle of the action all night, tying a career high with four hits and driving in the Giants' eighth run with a ninth-inning double.

The comeback win was the second of the series for the Giants, who have won 10 of their past 13 games and six straight on the road.

"Everybody is just kind of clicking at the right time." Belt said.

Bochy said Buster Posey might sit out today's game against the Chicago Cubs after his ankle started to feel "a little cranky" on Houston's hard infield.

• Read more articles by Alex Pavlovic

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