Giants 6, Pirates 3: Pablo Sandoval drove in one of San Francisco's four first-inning runs and added an RBI single in the sixth as the host Giants halted a three-game skid.

Buster Posey collected three hits and plated a run while Gregor Blanco added two hits and an RBI for San Francisco, which scored fewer than four runs in four of its previous five games.

Tony Sanchez hit his first major-league home run and added an RBI single for Pittsburgh. Jose Tabata had three of the other five hits recorded by the Pirates, who fell into a tie with St. Louis for first place in the National League Central.

The Giants got to Francisco Liriano (14-6) early as Marco Scutaro led off the first inning with a single and advanced on Joaquin Arias' double before scoring on Posey's base hit. Brett Pill had a run-scoring single, Sandoval drove in a run with a groundout and Blanco capped the four-run, five-hit frame with an RBI single.

Tim Lincecum (7-13) allowed three runs on three hits and four walks but struck out eight in 5 1/3 innings as he ended a two-start slide. Five relievers bridged the gap to Sergio Romo, who worked a scoreless ninth for his 31st save.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Liriano yielded four runs and nine hits over four frames in losing for just the second time in seven decisions. ... The Pirates fell to 4-2 on their seven-game road trip, while the Giants improved to 2-4 on their seven-game homestand. ... Lincecum had lost three of his previous four career decisions against Pittsburgh.