Pence Thrills Fans As Astros Win Again

Houston Astros' Hunter Pence swings for a solo home run in the fourth inning against the San Francisco Giants in a baseball game Wednesday, May 16, 2007 in Houston. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan) (Pat Sullivan - AP)

HOUSTON -- Hunter Pence is still so overwhelmed by playing in the majors that goosebumps appear on his arms when he talks about it. He's been providing some thrills for Houston Astros fans, too.

Pence homered for the second straight game and the Astros beat the San Francisco Giants 2-1 Wednesday night for their fourth straight win. The victory gave Houston its first home series win over the Giants since 1999 and breaks a streak of five consecutive series losses to San Francisco.

Pence put Houston up 2-1 with a solo homer that bounced off the train tracks above the left-field wall in the fourth inning. He hit a tying two-run drive in the eighth inning of Tuesday's 6-5, 10-inning win.

Giants slugger Barry Bonds was 1-for-3 with a single and a walk. He hasn't homered since May 8 and remains 10 away from tying Hank Aaron's career record of 755. His drought at Minute Maid Park stretches to opening day of 2004.

Pence, who was called up April 27 to boost the offense, is 7-for-7 in this series. He had singles in the second, sixth and eighth innings Wednesday and has four home runs and 15 RBIs this season.

He is the first Astros player with seven consecutive hits since Vinny Castilla did it in 2001. He needs one more to tie the team record for consecutive hits set in 1980 by Art Howe.

"I get chills right now just thinking about when I'm out there looking in the stands and watching Barry Bonds hit," Pence said as tiny bumps appeared on his arms. "It's unbelievable."

Astros manager Phil Garner is happy with Pence's performance, but has been guarded in his praise of the youngster.

"I'm afraid everybody's going to get into a frenzy here and the expectations are going to be unattainable," he said. "The guy's doing pretty darn good. Just let him play."

San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy was a little more free with the compliments.

"He's having quite the series, no question about it," Bochy said. "He's not missing his pitch, and if he doesn't hit it well, it's falling in. He's been a wrecking crew here this series."

Fellow rookie Chris Sampson (4-3), who was back with Houston after missing Tuesday's game for the birth of his first child, allowed one run and seven hits in six innings. He walked one and struck out three.