SAN FRANCISCO — Ryan Howard needed a big hit to get going again during a rough road trip, and the reigning NL MVP found an ideal target: the kid known as "Franchise" making his major league debut.

Howard welcomed Tim Lincecum to the big leagues with a two-run homer and Shane Victorino also took Lincecum deep with a two-run shot in the Philadelphia Phillies' 8-5 win over the San Francisco Giants yesterday.

"I'll remember how far those balls went and what not to throw in those counts," Lincecum said when asked what he'll take from this first outing.

Jimmy Rollins had a go-ahead triple in the sixth, and Philadelphia salvaged a split of its four-game series.

Howard's third-inning drive was his fifth homer of the year and just his third hit in seven games.

Cole Hamels (4-1), the Phillies' own talented young pitcher, struck out nine to win his second straight start.

The 22-year-old Lincecum, a hard-throwing righty selected 10th overall in the 2006 draft, struck out five and walked five. He allowed five runs — four earned — and five hits in 4 1/3 innings.

"He's going to be fine," manager Bruce Bochy said. "I'll tell you, that stuff's electric. He made a couple of mistakes but he showed what a great arm he's got."

Victorino, a St. Anthony alum, hit his first homer of the year in the first following a leadoff single by Rollins.

Victorino went 10 for 17 (.588) with four multihit games and four RBIs in the series.

"When you're hot, you're hot," he said. "I feel comfortable right now."

Reds 9, Rockies 3: Josh Hamilton hit a pair of homers, and host Cincinnati snapped its four-game losing streak with a victory over Colorado.

Braves 6, Dodgers 4: Jarrod Saltalamacchia got his first two major league hits, including a single to drive in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, as host Atlanta rallied to beat Los Angeles.

Padres 3, Marlins 1: Jake Peavy (4-1) allowed one hit in seven innings and struck out 10 to lead visiting San Diego over Florida. Peavy no-hit Florida until Dan Uggla tripled with one out in the sixth to drive home an unearned run.

Cardinals 3, Astros 1: Braden Looper (4-2) allowed a run in six innings, helping host St. Louis beat Houston for only the Cardinals' second victory in eight games.

Brewers 6, Pirates 4: Prince Fielder homered twice and scored the go-ahead run in host Milwaukee's third straight win.

Diamondbacks 3, Mets 1: Livan Hernandez (3-1) gave up one run in seven innings and Arizona ended a 13-game home losing streak to New York.

Cubs 4, Nationals 3: Daryle Ward singled home the winning run in the 10th inning after Ryan Theriot tied it with a single in the ninth, and host Chicago beat Washington for its fifth straight victory.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Yankees 5, Mariners 0: Darrell Rasner (1-1) allowed three hits in 5 2/3 innings in a victory over visiting Seattle. Derek Jeter hit a go-ahead single and Hideki Matsui got his 2,000th professional hit as the Yankees won for the fifth time in six games after losing eight of nine.

Red Sox 4, Twins 3: Curt Schilling (4-1) allowed three runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings to help visiting Boston beat Minnesota. Schilling walked two and tied a season high with seven strikeouts.

Indians 9, Orioles 6: Trot Nixon went 5 for 5 with four RBIs as visiting Cleveland beat Baltimore. Cleveland has won 11 of 14 despite dropping the first two games of the series that concludes today.

White Sox 4, Angels 3: A.J. Pierzynski tied it with a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the eighth inning, then singled home the go-ahead run in the 10th to lead visiting Chicago over Los Angeles.

Rangers 3, Blue Jays 2: Michael Young, Mark Teixeira and Kenny Lofton homered to propel Texas past visiting Toronto.

Athletics 5, Devil Rays 3: Nick Swisher hit a tiebreaking solo homer and Joe Blanton (3-1) gave up three runs over 7 1/3 innings to lift visiting Oakland over Tampa Bay.

Tigers 13, Royals 4: Craig Monroe, Curtis Granderson and Gary Sheffield hit two-run homers in the second inning as visiting Detroit beat Kansas City for its seventh straight victory.