Kevin Pillar joins Barry Bonds in Giants record book seven games into tenure

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SAN FRANCISCO -- Barry Bonds was at Oracle Park on Tuesday night, and he got to see something that hasn't been done by a Giant since the Bonds Era. 

Kevin Pillar drove in four runs in the Giants' 7-2 win over the San Diego Padres, a night after hitting a grand slam. He became the first Giant with at least four RBI in back-to-back games since Bonds drove in nine runs over two games in April 2002. The Giants didn't acquire Pillar until before the sixth game of the season, but he already is tied with Brandon Belt for the team lead with eight RBI. 

"He's got some pop," manager Bruce Bochy said Tuesday night. "And he's really coming through in the clutch here, too. He's a professional hitter. He's a great addition to the club."

This was the most complete game of the season for the Giants. Here's what else went right:

--- Derek Holland spent all of last season chasing a seven-inning start, and he talked about it often. He came one out short on June 26, but never quite got there the rest of the way. 

Holland did it Tuesday in his third start of 2019, striking out nine over seven strong innings. He allowed just one run, a solo shot from Hunter Renfroe. 

"I joked around with Bum and said I made it past five innings and also didn't throw 100 pitches in five innings, so that was good," Holland said. "That's a tough lineup, though. You can't ever take anything away from them. The home run at the end -- you've still got to make pitches, it shows."

--- Around these parts, it is often noted that the Giants have become a terrible bunting team. So, it must be noted that Holland got a sacrifice down in the fifth with a runner on second, allowing Pillar's fly to left to bring another run in. That's the kind of stuff this team needs to do.

--- Holland didn't go with a goofy t-shirt after picking up his first win of the year. He's a Dallas resident and huge Mavericks fan, so ... 

[RELATED: After two weeks of quiet bats, Giants offense breaks through]

--- Belt wasn't worried about moving over to left, jokingly pointing out that he recorded an outfield assist last season. It only took Belt two games out there to get on the board again. He cleanly fielded a liner off the wall and got it in to Brandon Crawford, who threw Franmil Reyes out at second. 

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"He's already bragging in there that he's the best at the ball coming off the wall," Bochy said. 

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