Reds' Phillips: 'I thought we were done'

• Johnny Cueto lasted just eight pitches in Game 1
• Phillips hit a two-run home run in the third inning
• Cueto could start Game 3

SAN FRANCISCO – Brandon Phillips was thinking what you were thinking, Reds fans.

"When Johnny (Cueto) went down I was like, gosh, oh no, we're done," Phillips said. "Why? Why? And when we were out there talking and we were like, let's win this for Johnny."

Phillips was the hitting star of Saturday's 5-2 win. His two-run homer gave the Reds a mammoth psychological boost in the third inning, putting the visitors ahead 2-0 against Giants ace Matt Cain. Phillips also drove in a big insurance run with an RBI single to make it 4-1 in the top of the ninth. Phillips overall was 3-for-5 with 3 RBI.

Regarding his homer, Phillips said:

"I was like, OK, there we go. We got momentum now, and the team was going crazy."

TV replays showed an ecstatic Reds dugout as Phillips circled the bases on his homer, with players raising their arms and jumping out of their seats.

Phillips also sparkled defensively, including his diving stop of an overthrow at first base. He also shook things up with his "Matrix" move on the basepaths, falling and feinting his way out of a forceout in the sixth inning. Phillips shake-and-bake move allowed him to reach second base while Joey Votto, who had grounded to second, was thrown out at first.

"I just tried to wait as long as possible to get Joey try to get to first base," Phillips said. "He reached out for me, I fell down and he didn't tag me. It kept the inning open but we didn't score any runs that inning. But I think it gave us a little bit of energy."

It certainly gave the national TV audience something more to talk about.

"They said something about me being on TV and I'm going to shine," Phillips said. "I do love the TV, though."