He was a backup catcher in the minors. He hadn't played past Class AA. He was a 17th-round draft pick. He wasn't a candidate to make the Giants' roster out of spring training until the final days of camp. His only goal was getting to Class AAA.

What other credentials do you need?

Steve Holm won Sunday's game for the Giants with his first major league home run, a seventh-inning shot that overcame a 3-2 deficit. The Giants were 4-3 winners over the Phillies, and the only reason Holm was playing was that starting catcher Bengie Molina was replaced by a pinch-runner.

The home run came off J.C. Romero, who hadn't given up a homer in 50 innings.

No matter what he does at the plate, it's his work behind the plate that landed him a big-league job. Repeatedly, pitchers spoke out in spring training saying they loved throwing to Holm, and he eventually climbed up the depth chart, passing Eliezer Alfonzo and Guillermo Rodriguez.

GIANTS 4, PHILLIES 3: The Giants won two straight games after dropping five in a row. Down 3-2 in the seventh, they got a lift when Steve Holm hit a two-run homer. The bullpen also got props. After Jonathan Sanchez gave up three runs in 4 1/3 innings, the relievers threw scoreless ball the rest of the way, including Billy Sadler, Jack Taschner, Tyler Walker and Brian Wilson, who earned his 11th save.

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