Cody Ross can’t wait to get to Citizens Bank Park, despite knowing that a firestorm of foul epithets surely awaits him in the City of Brotherly Love.

“I definitely won’t be leaving my hotel room much, that’s for sure,” Ross said. “I’ll be getting a lot of room service.”

On Tuesday, Ross will make his first Philadelphia appearance since October, when he spearheaded the Giants’ six-game triumph over the two-time National League champions and won NLCS MVP honors. For the series, Ross hit .350 with three doubles and three homers — two coming against Phillies ace Roy Halladay in the opener at Citizens Bank.

Phillies fans don’t like the Giants but have a particularly bitter distaste for Ross. Midway through his NLCS rampage, a Facebook page titled “I Hate Cody Ross” sprouted. It picked up 1,000 followers in 24 hours.

“Somebody showed it to me during the offseason,” he said. “No question, there were some pretty bad things said on there.”

Most are unprintable, but there were a few clever barbs, like “I had a hernia once. I liked that more than Cody Ross.” And: “So apparently Cody Ross’ nickname is ‘Smiles.’ I hate him even more.”

Ross hasn’t smiled much in 2011, but he cracks a wide one at the thought of going into Philly right now. The boo-fest that awaits notwithstanding, the .258 hitter is hoping it will cure whatever ails him at the plate.

“Every year it seems I’ll have one or two stretches where I get hot and it’ll

catapult me into a tear, but it just hasn’t happened this year,” he said. “I was bit by the injury bug at the beginning of the year, then I had to sit out a few games with my hamstring. I just can’t seem to get it going and keep it going.”

Ross has totaled seven homers and 30 RBIs with 66 strikeouts. The one saving grace is his team-leading 33 walks, but his production has been nowhere near what he had expected after becoming a San Francisco folk hero last fall. He also knows he could be running out of time, as the Giants look around the league for a hitter who can give them the same kind of offensive jolt Ross did in 2010.

“He showed last year that when he gets hot he can carry a ballclub,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “There have been some flashes, but like a lot of our guys, he just hasn’t been able to get untracked yet. We could use one of those hot streaks right now.”

Ross’ own biggest disappointment?

“Just driving in runs,” he said. “I’ve always felt I’ve been able to be a run producer — not so much a home run hitter, but somebody who can drive in runs. It just seems like this year it’s been a real struggle to do it. I don’t know if I put too much pressure on myself or what.

“I think when the team is struggling offensively, everybody puts way more pressure on themselves, especially when the media is always writing about those struggles,” he continued. “We hear all that stuff and we try to block out as much as we can. But we’re human, and we try to do superhuman things sometimes instead of just going up there and being ourselves and playing our game.”

Now Ross is hoping to re-create the feeling he had last fall at Citizens Bank to reclaim his batting stroke, even if it also breeds contempt from Phillies fans. He’s had success against Philadelphia historically. Including the postseason, he has 16 career homers against the Phillies, more than against any other club. He’s also looking forward to trips to Atlanta and Florida for the same reason.

“I’m going back into the N.L. East, where I played most of my career,” the former Marlin said. “I think one of the main reasons I played so well in the postseason is I felt comfortable going into Philly and Atlanta. I didn’t swing it all that well in the World Series, and one of the reasons is I’d never played in Texas. When you go into a stadium and you haven’t played there much, it’s a weird sort of vibe.”

For the favorable hitting conditions in Philadelphia, he’ll happily put up with a torrent of insults.

“I’m excited,” he said. “Every time I’ve ever gone into Philly, it’s been fun. It’s a lot like our place (AT&T Park) — the fans are so passionate, they love the game and they’re so into every pitch. It’s definitely going to be a little different this year. I’m sure I’m going to be welcomed the Philly way, but nonetheless, it could be just what I need.”

TUESDAY’S GAME
Giants (Tim Lincecum 8-8) at Philadelphia (Vance Worley 6-1), 4:05 p.m. CSNBA

With Pablo Sandoval and Nate Schierholtz leading the way, the heart of the Giants’ batting order is finally starting to show some vibrant thump.

Sandoval went 3 for 4, including a monster homer to break a scoreless tie in the fourth inning, and Schierholtz was 2 for 4 with the first run-scoring hit in a four-run sixth as the Giants whipped the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-0 at AT&T Park on Monday night.

“You’ve having fun when you’re swinging the bat well,” said Sandoval after a brilliant night in the field and at the plate. “If we keep doing like that, we’re going to have fun every day.”

Ryan Vogelsong (7-1) was the benefactor of San Francisco’s rare night of robust offensive fun, even if he didn’t need so much. In making his first post-All-Star start, the Giants rotation’s Lazarus picked up where he left off from his stellar first half. The right-hander tossed 62/3 shutout innings, limited the Dodgers to seven hits and solidified his position as the National League’s ERA leader at 2.02.

Vogelsong’s continued excellence is no longer so surprising, but the possible revival of the Giants’ offense may be. They’ve scored four or more runs in five of their past six games, and that’s a positive sign for a team that is 35-6 when it puts at least four runs on the board.

“We’re not going to score 10 runs a game, but we should be able to score five,” Sandoval said. “That’s important, because we have a great pitching staff and we

shouldn’t have so many one- and two-run games. If we can get a couple guys going, we can do some damage.”

At least of late, Sandoval and Schierholtz have been giving the Giants some respectable anchors in the middle of their order, and their five hits played a huge part in beating a former nemesis, Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley (8-8). Sandoval has had a rough time with Billingsley historically (6 for 33, .182 lifetime with no homers coming into Monday night), but he was no mystery to him on this night.

Change of approach, perhaps? No, Sandoval maintained.

“See ball, hit ball, that’s what I’ve been doing these last couple games,” he said. “I don’t worry about approach.”

Sandoval definitely saw the pitch Billingsley offered up to open the bottom of the fourth. He launched his ninth homer into the pavilion in right-center, one of the deepest parts of the ballpark.

As good as Sandoval has been at the plate, he was just as good at third base in this game, making several nice stops: notably a backhand pick of a Matt Kemp stinging grounder in the sixth with runners at first and second and nobody out. Sandoval not only snared the ball, he made a strong throw to second baseman Mike Fontenot, who turned a double play.

“Sandoval, since he’s been back (from hand surgery), has just played a terrific third base,” said manager Bruce Bochy. “Range, coming in on the ball, he’s throwing the ball well. I just love the way he’s playing defensively.”

As for Vogelsong, he made his first second-half statement that he was a worthy All-Star pick. While he could care less about his league-leading ERA, if it validates Bochy’s faith in picking him for the N.L. team, he’ll be happy to take the numbers as low as he possibly can.

“It’s important for me to prove him right,” Vogelsong said. “(Critics) can say whatever they want to say, it doesn’t bother me one bit. But he stuck his neck out to pick me, so I want to show people he made a good decision.”

Vogelsong had some control issues in his previous three starts but studied film during the break and noticed a flaw in his mechanics that helped him get back to form. He walked just one against the Dodgers while striking out five.

Infielder Miguel Tejada left the game after suffering a lower-abdominal strain while making a fielding play in the third inning. Catcher Chris Stewart left in the sixth after getting hit in the back of the head by Aaron Miles’ bat.

Forget about calling it the bullpen. Giants relievers hang out at the K Corral.

They combined for 13 strikeouts over eight scoreless innings and kept the San Diego Padres at bay long enough to pull out a 6-5, 14-inning victory at AT&T Park on Wednesday.

Nate Schierholtz won it with his second home run of the game, a high fly ball that barely reached the top of the brick wall in right field leading off the bottom of the 14th. Padres reliever Pat Neshek walked off the mound shaking his head in disbelief.

It was the Giants’ 10th walk-off victory this season and the first career multi-homer game for Schierholtz.

He got the hero’s welcome, with players mobbing him at home plate. But it was the Giants relievers who cleared his path.

“They won the game for us,” manager Bruce Bochy said after the 3-hour, 52-minute epic. “They gave us a chance when we were down, and then they held it there.”

The Giants improved to 8-5 in extra innings. Despite their season-long offensive woes, they moved to two games ahead of Arizona in the National League West.

San Diego, meanwhile, mounted nothing but a steady breeze against the Giants bullpen. Brian Wilson and Sergio Romo, for example, combined to strike out seven of the 14 batters they faced.

In all, the Giants tied the ballpark record for K’s. That’s 19 strikeouts — and one walk-off.

“That home run could not have come at a better time,” Bochy said. “That was a hard-fought

game.”

It was the last of several well-timed hits for the Giants. They tied it at 5-5 in the eighth when their hottest hitter came up at the right time. Pablo Sandoval blasted a two-run double, extending his hitting streak to a career-high 17 games.

Hitting left-handed against right-handed reliever Mike Adams, Sandoval smoked a ball deep into the right-center alley to drive home Andres Torres from third and Brandon Crawford from first.

As Sandoval pulled into second base, he spread out his arms wide, like an eagle, then clapped his hands in triumph.

Sandoval deserved credit for a save in the top of the ninth when the Padres threatened against Wilson. San Diego had runners at the corners and one out. Wilson took care of Chase Headley on his own, getting a fastball for a swinging strike three, but Ryan Ludwick lashed a ball down the third-base line.

Sandoval dived to his right to snare Ludwick’s hot shot, then threw across the diamond for the final out of the inning.

The late flurry of action, predictably, took place too late to do any good for Madison Bumgarner. The Giants made it an astounding 18th consecutive game at AT&T Park without scoring more than three runs with Bumgarner on the mound.

Bumgarner gave up five runs in six innings — but he knew he had to be better. This was a matchup between a pair of starters with the National League’s worst run support. Dustin Moseley was getting 2.21 runs per nine innings from the Padres while in games; Bumgarner was getting 2.74.

But it would be untrue to say Bumgarner got no support Wednesday. Andres Torres helped him with a sensational play to rob Jesus Guzman of extra bases in the top of the sixth. Guzman blasted a ball toward the 399-foot mark in center field. Torres sprinted with his back to the plate, turned to find the ball slicing behind him and caught it with an outstretched glove.

Torres also finished 3 for 6 with two doubles and two runs. His big game came a night after being irritated by Padres reliever Chad Qualls, who spiked the ball after tagging him out.

“I’ve said it before: Sometimes it’s good to play angry,” Bochy said. “Sometimes that’s a good thing. He felt like (last night) was personal. What was important is that he handled it.”

Symbolically, Tim Lincecum walked to the mound against Cincinnati on Saturday as the Giants’ last line of defense against the forces of panic and despair.

It’s not quite fair to pile all that responsibility upon anybody’s shoulders in any single game in June, but there it was.

Freddy Sanchez had just gone down to a serious shoulder injury. Buster Posey has been down and out for a few weeks, of course.

The season is still young, and the Giants are still clinging to first place in the National League West.

But if the Giants were going to have a chance to feel halfway good about themselves this weekend, Lincecum was the one who had to start the party music.

And it did not happen.

Instead, after the Reds’ 10-2 victory at AT&T Park, there was mostly thick silence in the Giants’ clubhouse.

“It’s not about carrying the team, it’s just being a large aspect of it, and doing your job,” Lincecum said after giving up seven earned runs in four-plus innings, one of the worst outings of his glorious career.

“And I didn’t do mine today.”

What happens to the defending World Series champions if they can’t hit, if they don’t have Posey, and if Lincecum isn’t on top of his game?

We saw it Saturday — the sense of anxiety was a tangible presence amid the murmuring and the head-scratching in the stands.

Lincecum has done so much for this franchise, when he doesn’t deliver, the air gets mighty arid.

“I

know it looked bad today,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “We were off. Had a horrible game. This doesn’t happen very often. It just so happens it comes right after Freddy’s injury. These guys don’t make excuses.

“These guys, they’re not making excuses. “… It’s up to us to keep fighting. And these guys will.”

Usually, the charge starts with Lincecum, of course.

But this was the fourth consecutive — and easily the worst — sluggish outing for the two-time Cy Young winner, all dating to May 21, when Lincecum shut out the A’s.

In that game, Lincecum threw a season-high 133 pitches; that also was his last start before the Giants lost Posey, Lincecum’s trusted catcher, to a devastating ankle injury in late May.

In his four starts since, Lincecum has a 7.66 ERA, and his season ERA has gone from 2.06 to his current 3.41.

Lincecum had a similarly wobbly period last August, when he acknowledged some adjustment issues going from Bengie Molina to Posey behind the plate.

By last September, though, Lincecum was in lock step with Posey and was nearly perfect through the fall.

Right now, Lincecum is about as far from his September-October dominance as he can get.

“I still feel strong,” Lincecum said. “I don’t feel unhealthy. I don’t feel like anything’s bothering me. It’s just simply getting back to being me. Just driving to the plate, using the mechanics, keeping my rhythm.

“Kind of dumbifying myself, I guess you could say “… keeping it simple.”

Lincecum was all over the place from the outset, and the Reds were disciplined enough to make him pay; he threw 73 total pitches, only 36 for strikes.

He recorded only one strikeout, which, remarkably, is the lowest total of his career. In 136 previous outings (135 as a starter) — Lincecum had never recorded fewer than two strikeouts and had averaged 7.4 strikeouts per appearance.

That 133-pitch outing, in retrospect, sticks out like a sore statistical thumb.

“I don’t feel like it’s fatigue,” Lincecum said when asked about the effects of the May 21 game. “I don’t feel like I’m getting tired. I don’t feel like anything’s broken. I just feel like it’s a matter of just getting back to being me.”

That, perhaps, could suggest Lincecum has been thinking a little more on the mound now that he’s throwing to Eli Whiteside, not Posey.

In the third inning, there might have been a sign of some disconnect — with a runner on third, Lincecum threw a darting off-speed pitch that hit the dirt but looked stoppable.

Whiteside missed the ball, it skipped to the backstop, Brandon Phillips scored, putting the Reds up 3-0 and putting a scowl on Lincecum’s face.

Has the catcher change affected Lincecum at all?

“Not really,” Lincecum said. “Not at all. I mean, when you go out there, whether it’s with Whitey or (Chris) Stewart, you have to go out there and make pitches.”

Bochy said he continues to have the utmost confidence in Whiteside but added that he might get Stewart in there with Lincecum if the schedule works out right.

You count up all of the Giants’ woes, and you do have to ask: How much has to go wrong for them to be knocked out of first place?

At some point, it probably will come down to Lincecum, the Giants’ other key pitchers, and the refortifying of their last line of defense.

Read Tim Kawakami’s Talking Points blog at blogs.mercurynews.com/kawakami. Contact him at tkawakami@mercurynews.com or 408-920-5442.