Span’s HR in 10th leads Giants past Phillies

PHILADELPHIA — Denard Span, one of the few Giants unaffected by the team’s ongoing slump, christened Thursday’s 10th inning with a leadoff homer that lifted the Giants over the Phillies, 3-2, at Citizens Bank Park.

The outcome enabled the Giants to avoid being administered a three-game sweep by the Phillies, who mustered four hits off starter Matt Moore and five relievers.

Span also accounted for the Giants’ first two runs by singling and scoring in the first inning and on a sacrifice fly in the fifth. The Phillies kept pace, as Aaron Altherr doubled home Cesar Hernandez in the first inning, before Freddy Galvis’ bases-loaded fielder’s-choice grounder delivered their second run in the sixth.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDEighth isn’t enough: With the score tied in the eighth, 2-2, the Giants squandered an opportunity to inch ahead. Span and Angel Pagan singled to open the inning against Phillies lefty Brett Oberholtzer, who quickly settled down. Oberholtzer struck out Hunter Pence, coaxed Brandon Crawford’s groundout and received help from Altherr in center field, who dove to catch Brandon Belt’s line drive.

Velasquez again solid but short: It didn’t take a crystal ball to see the foreshadowing of another short start from Velasquez after the 24-year-old righty needed 28 pitches to make it through the first inning. He joined Zach Eflin and Phil Klein in not making it past the fifth inning against the Giants. Although Velasquez pitched well, allowing only two runs on three hits and striking out …

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