PHILADELPHIA (AP) - With each quality start, Barry Zito is finally earning that $126 million the San Francisco Giants gave him six years ago.

Zito pitched seven strong innings but had nothing to show for it because the Giants lost 4-3 in 12 innings to last-place Philadelphia on Sunday.

Advertisement

Jimmy Rollins lined an RBI single off Brad Penny in the 12th to avert a three-game sweep against the NL West-leading Giants.

Zito allowed three runs and five hits, striking out seven. The lefty is having his best season for the Giants since signing that huge, seven-year contract in December 2006.

``I like the way he's throwing the ball,' Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.

John Mayberry Jr. hit two solo homers for the Phillies. Nate Schierholtz hit a pair of solo shots for the Giants, who fell to 7-2 since the All-Star break.

``We're getting contributions from one through nine, which is why we had a good trip,' hot-hitting Buster Posey said.

The Phillies snapped a seven-game home losing streak and avoided their first sweep against the Giants since 2004.

Penny (0-1) walked Carlos Ruiz with one out in the 12th. Laynce Nix followed with a single to right to move Ruiz to third. Rollins then lined the first pitch to right to end it.

``I've faced Brad Penny a lot. I had an idea what he wanted to do. That's not a role he's used to,' Rollins said.

The five-time defending NL East champions are 10 1/2 games behind Atlanta in the wild-card standings.

Kyle Kendrick (4-8) tossed 2 1-3 innings to earn the win and extended his career-best scoreless streak to 18 2-3 innings.

Phillies starter Joe Blanton gave up three runs and seven hits in eight innings, increasing his trade value with another strong second-half start. Since 2008, Blanton has the best record in the majors after the All-Star break at 17-5.

The right-hander will be a free agent after the season, so the Phillies might move him before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline unless they start to make a run.

After Mayberry gave the Phillies their first lead, 3-2, on his second homer in the seventh, Schierholtz answered with his second in the eighth. He hit a high drive to right to tie it at 3.

Blanton escaped further trouble in the inning when right fielder Hunter Pence saved two runs by making a running basket catch on Posey's deep fly to right.

Mayberry drove a 3-2 pitch into the seats in left to tie it at 2 in the fourth. He hadn't driven in a run in his previous 39 at_bats, going back to June 24.

``I tip my hat to him,' Zito said.

Pablo Sandoval's RBI double to left-center gave the Giants a 2-1 lead in the fourth.

Schierholtz ripped a 2-0 pitch way out to right for his first career leadoff homer to give the Giants a 1-0 lead.

Chase Utley's RBI triple in the bottom half tied it at 1. Zito escaped a first-and-third, one-out jam by getting Pence to ground into his 13th double play.

Zito stranded runners on second and third in the third by striking out Ryan Howard on a 74 mph curveball.

NOTES: Posey is 18 for 36 in the last 10 games. ... Blanton has allowed 22 homers, second-most in the majors. ... Zito allowed his 12th earned run in the first inning in 19 starts. ... Melky Cabrera extended his hitting streak to nine games with a first-inning double. ... Schierholtz has five homers this season, including two multihomer games. ... Ryan Vogelsong (7-4, 3.21) pitches for the Giants in the opener of a three-game series against San Diego on Monday.

---

Rob Maaddi can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/RobMaaddi