HOUSTON — So much of the Giants’ first half, and the previous year, was about weeding out players.

It took a little longer, but two formerly apparent lost causes are sprouting — and just at the right time, too.
Suddenly sizzling leadoff man Eugenio Velez set the tone for a rare offensive night on the road Tuesday, collecting three of the Giants’ 16 hits. And Jonathan Sanchez continued to pitch with greater poise while he led the Giants to an 8-1 dismantling of the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.
Sanchez, who has been a more confident pitcher since authoring his no-hitter at AT&T Park on July 10, held the Astros to four hits in seven shutout innings to win away from China Basin for the first time this season. He had lost nine consecutive decisions on the road, one off the franchise record, since his previous victory on Sept. 12.
More importantly, Sanchez has won back-to-back starts — be they home, road or on the planet Neptune—for the first time since June 24 and 29 of last season.
“Less pitches per inning and getting deep in the game. That’s what I’m trying to do,” said Sanchez, who also got his first hit since June 12, 2008. “I want to go to the playoffs. Right now, we’re playing like we want to go there.”
Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum only pitch two out of every five days. So a stretch of consistency from Sanchez is a bridge the Giants will need to reach the postseason.
“That would be huge for us,” Giants Manager Bruce Bochy said. “You lose a Randy Johnson, you need somebody to soften that blow. That’s what he can do for us. Sanchy is going to be a key for us, we know it, and we like the way he’s throwing.”
Freddy Sanchez golfed his first home run as a Giant in the sixth inning and Pablo Sandoval made it consecutive shots when he picked a pitch almost off the ground and sent it into the box seats in left field. Aaron Rowand contributed a two-run single and an RBI double as the Giants scored in six different innings.
Velez led the parade while extending an 11-game hitting streak in which he’s batting .447. Velez also smoothly dealt with the gimmicky outfield dimensions here, catching Miguel Tejada’s deep drive in the first inning. A few feet to the left and it would’ve been a three-run homer.
Like Jonathan Sanchez, Velez no longer appears unsure of himself between the lines.
“He’s been such a shot in the arm,” Bochy said. “You get your leadoff hitter on and it does so much for the rest of the lineup. And he’s getting hits with runners on base, too. I’m proud of Geno for the way he’s come up and played here.”
For one other Giant, this was no garden variety win. Despite a public outcry to uproot Bengie Molina from the cleanup spot, Bochy continued to bat his veteran catcher fourth and he came through with three hits. It was his first multiple-RBI game since July 9.
“It felt great, I tell you,” said Molina, who was distraught a night earlier when he made the final out with the tying run in scoring position. “Every time I hit the ball it seems I’ve got 14 guys out there to catch it, that I’m facing two or three pitchers at the same time. It hasn’t been fun for me. Hopefully I can build from this.”
Molina also threw out his ninth attempted base stealer in 14 games.
The Giants nearly had their 16th shutout of the season — no other major league club has 10 — but hard-throwing Waldis Joaquin gave up a run in the ninth inning while making his debut.