Good vibrations

SAN FRANCISCO -- See, Omar Vizquel was the key after all.

The Giants had lost 22 of their first 38 games, including the last five in a row. On Saturday, Vizquel played his first game of 2008, collecting three of the team's 15 hits on the way to a comfortable 8-2 victory over the Phillies.

Easy as that.

Yes, Tim Lincecum probably had something to do with it, pitching eight dominant innings.

So did Randy Winn and Aaron Rowand, who each had three hits and a homer.

In fact, this was just about as complete a victory as the Giants have had, equaling their largest winning margin of the season. The offensive-challenged Giants have spent most of the season scrapping through tight ballgames or else getting blown out.

For one day -- Vizquel's first day -- all was right in the Giants' world.

"That's what we needed," manager Bruce Bochy said. "We put together a great ballgame. We executed and we pitched well."

It may not entirely be a coincidence that the Giants exploded on Vizquel's first day back. There was a general feeling among the Giants that the 41-year-old provides a spark, in the clubhouse and on the field.

"It's exciting to have Omar around," Dan Ortmeier said. "He's full of energy."

Vizquel missed 10 weeks (abou four more than expected) after undergoing knee surgery in spring training. Vizquel had said he was apprehensive upon a return to field, but the early returns were positive.

He fielded every ground ball flawlessly and even made a nice catch on a wind-blown popup in shallow center field. At the plate, he had three singles.

"I'm leading the league in hitting," he said.

"I felt pretty good. Overall I didn't have any pain. It's the first time I played nine innings. We'll see how I wake up tomorrow, but I think it's going to be pretty good."

Vizquel became the first Venezuelan player to play in 20 major-league seasons. He also collected the 2,600th hit of his career, although he mistakenly kept the ball from hit No. 2,601.

Rowand also had a memorable day. It began with a short ceremony in which he was presented with the Gold Glove award he won last year. Because Rowand played for the Phillies in 2007, Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel presented him with the award.

"It was definitely a special day, one I'll remember for the rest of my life," Rowand said.

Rowand got the Giants on the board with a second-inning solo homer. Lincecum added an RBI single later in the inning. The Giants broke the game open in the third, when Ortmeier's two-out, two-run double capped a three-run inning to make it 5-1.

That was plenty for Lincecum, who gave up solo homers to Ryan Howard and Chris Coste in eight innings. Lincecum gave up just two other hits, and he struck out eight.

"Everything felt good," Lincecum said. "My changeup was there when I needed it. My curveball was there when I needed it. It was one of those days when everything fell into place."

That goes for the team. For the first time since May 13, 2007, the Giants had four players with at least three hits. Jose Castillo chipped in a career-high four, to go along with Winn, Vizquel and Rowand.

For the first time since April 25, a Giants starter pitched beyond the seventh inning.

For the first time since April 28, the Giants won a game by more than one run. It was only the fourth time this year that the Giants won a game by more than three runs.

"There were a lot of good vibes going into the game, with a Gold Glove ceremony and getting a Gold Glove player back," Winn said.

"It was a good day."

NOTES

Right-hander Merkin Valdez had been unavailable the past three games because of tightness in his forearm, but he was better on Saturday.

The Giants completed a string of six consecutive games against left-handed starters by going 1-5.

It was the Giants' longest string of games against lefties since 1976.

Matchups for this week's series against the Astros: Barry Zito vs. Roy Oswalt on Monday night; Matt Cain vs. Brandon Backe on Tuesday night; Pat Misch vs. Brian Moehler on Wednesday night; Lincecum vs. Chris Sampson on Thursday afternoon.

You can reach Staff Writer Jeff Fletcher at 521-5489 or jeff.fletcher@pressdemocrat.com.