Sanchez single helps Giants

GLENDALE — Freddy Sanchez got it done with his bat and his glove on Tuesday afternoon, going one for three with a run batted in and turning the game-ending double play in the San Francisco Giants’ 3-0 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Three of the 2010 National League Championship Series at AT&T Park.
San Francisco, widely viewed as an underdog to the defending National League champions coming in to the series, now holds a 2-1 lead with the next two games set to be played at home today and Thursday with first pitches for both contests scheduled for 4:57 p.m. PDT.
Sanchez, a former Burbank High and Glendale Community College standout, continued his streak of starting every game in the 2010 playoffs at second base and in the No. 2 batting slot. He notched his third hit in 12 at bats in the series in the bottom of the fifth inning on a play that was originally ruled an error on Phillies second baseman Chase Utley, but later changed to a single.
Aaron Rowand scored from second base on the play, giving Sanchez his first RBI for the series and the Giants a 3-0 lead.
Right-hander Matt Cain turned in a stellar performance on the mound for San Francisco, limiting the Phillies to two hits over seven innings and striking out five.
The Giants also got RBIs from Aubrey Huff and Cody Ross in the bottom of the fourth inning, in which Sanchez had another productive at bat.
Sanchez, who batted .292 during the regular season with seven home runs and 47 RBIs, followed up Edgar Renteria’s leadoff single with a sacrifice bunt that moved Renteria to second base.
Pat Burrell then walked with two outs before Ross and Huff struck with back-to-back run-scoring singles off Philadelphia starter Cole Hamels.
Jimmy Rollins singled with one out against Giants closer Brian Wilson in the top of the ninth inning to keep Philadelphia’s hopes alive, but the next batter, Raul Ibanez, bounced into a 4-6-3 double play to end the game.
Sanchez’ other two plate appearances on Tuesday resulted in a groundout to shortstop in the first inning and a fly ball to deep center field in the eighth.
After going 0 for four in Saturday’s opener, a 4-2 Giants win, and two for four with a pair of singles in a 6-1 loss on Sunday, Sanchez is now batting .250 in the series and .178 in the postseason, the first of his 10-year major league career.