For a day, anyway, SF's young are in driver's seat

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants' youth movement you've heard so much about was finally on display Sunday.

Headlined by John Bowker hitting another homer -- two in his first two days in the majors -- the Giants rode the production of several young players to a 7-4 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals at AT&T Park.

Not only did Bowker, 24, hit a two-run homer, but he added a run-scoring single and a sacrifice fly. Eugenio Velez, 24, drove in two runs.

With 23-year-old pitcher Tim Lincecum's run-scoring hit, it gave the Giants seven RBIs by players 25 or younger, the most since Will Clark drove in seven runs on June 22, 1988.

It was only the second time since 2001 that the Giants have had multiple players 25 or younger with multiple RBIs. The other was on the final day of the season last year, when Velez and Kevin Frandsen did it.

Prior to that you have to go back to June 28, 2000 (Bobby Estallela and Livan Hernandez), and before that it was May 6, 1995 (J.R. Phillips and Royce Clayton).

The last player under 25 to have four RBIs in a game for the Giants was Jay Canizaro on Aug. 21, 1996.

Supplementing all that young hitting, Lincecum pitched six dominant innings, striking out 11, and 26-year-old Brian Wilson earned the save.

"It's nice that everyone is getting experience and getting comfortable up here," Lincecum said. "That's only going to help for the players and for the organization."

Bowker was just happy that he could really celebrate this time, because he had hit his first homer amid a crushing defeat on Saturday. In a clubhouse enjoying a bounce-back victory Sunday, the music was blaring as Bowker conducted wave after wave of interviews.

"It still really hasn't sunk in yet," he said. "It's just crazy. I'm just glad I got some pitches to hit. . . . It's incredible. Unbelievable."

Bowker became the first Giant to homer in each of his first two major-league games. Overall it has happened seven times since 2000, including Elijah Dukes doing it last year with Tampa Bay.

"He's been a real shot in the arm for us," manager Bruce Bochy said. "He came through again today. It's great to have a kid come up here and do what he's done. . . . We needed some power and he's provided it."

Bowker had a big day, besides the homer. In the second inning, he whacked the first pitch he saw into right field for an RBI single.

In the fourth, he hacked at the first pitch from Cardinals righty Joel Piniero and drilled it onto the walkway above the right-field fence, putting the Giants ahead, 3-2.

He grounded into a double play in the fifth, but in the seventh he drove in his fourth run of the day with a sacrifice fly.

"He's hotter than a flap jack," said pitcher Tyler Walker.

The Giants led, 7-2, after Bowker's last RBI, and the the cushion came in handy. Lincecum's pitch-count reached 110 after six innings, and turned the game over to the bullpen.

The Cardinals scored twice in the eighth and had the bases loaded before Walker retired Skip Schumaker to end the inning and atone for his part in blowing a five-run lead on Saturday.

Wilson allowed two singles to start the ninth, bringing the potential tying run to the plate, but then he struck out Ryan Ludwick and Chris Duncan and he got Rico Washington a flyout to end it.

NOTES

Omar Vizquel, rehabbing from knee surgery, is at least a few days away from being able to play in minor-league games.

Vinnie Chulk reported no problems following outings on Friday and Saturday for Triple-A Fresno. Chulk is ready to be activated, but the Giants are going to give him another day off. They could activate him before Tuesday's game, but they would need to make a tough roster decision. Of the three pitchers most likely to go to make room for Chulk, Merkin Valdez and Erick Threets are out of options and Keiichi Yabu is the only long man.

Aaron Rowand missed a second consecutive game because of sore ribs and a sore groin. Bochy said he is planning on playing Rowand -- and sitting Bowker -- against Hall of Fame-bound lefty Randy Johnson tonight.

Jose Castillo doubled, increasing his league-leading total to eight.

Fred Lewis has seven extra-base hits in the past four games. He's hit leadoff in each of those games, going 11-for-33.

Contact staff writer Jeff Fletcher at 521-5489 or jeff.fletcher@pressdemocrat.com.