A Giant Homer for Rookie Rios

San Francisco rookie Armando Rios has found his calling in the big leagues.

The Giant outfielder hit his third pinch-hit home run in his 14th pinch-hit appearance and 32nd major league game in the 11th inning Sunday night to give the Giants a 5-4 victory over Houston, ending the Astros’ five-game winning streak.

Rios, hitting for reliever Robb Nen, lined a Scott Elarton (2-1) pitch to right field for the game winner in the top of the inning.

“He’s one of the few guys I had left that I knew could reach the seats here in the Astrodome, and I needed to save him for that kind of situation,” San Francisco Manager Dusty Baker said. “I think that was the first pinch hit home run of the year for us and it couldn’t have come at a better time.”

Rios took advantage of having seen Elarton in the past.

“I’ve seen Elarton before in the minors,” Rios said. “He worked me away to start and then came back with a cutter. It had movement and that’s what I was hoping for.”

Nen pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings for the victory, giving up one hit while striking out three.

San Francisco rookie Joe Nathan pitched the 11th inning for his first career save. He struck out Jeff Bagwell with a runner on third base to end the game.

“This was more frustrating than if we’d lost 8-2,” Houston Manager Larry Dierker said. “To lose by one run, when we had so many chances it bothers you more than if you’d been blown out.”

The Astros stranded 11 baserunners. They loaded the bases with one out in the seventh and failed to score and the tying run at third in the 11th and couldn’t break through against Nathan.