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 today.

"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• 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.