by Henry Schulman, Chronicle Staff Writer , The San Francisco Chronicle

With their eighth win in 11 games, the Giants moved a season-high eight over .500 42-34, assured no worse than a .500 trip and completed a rousing June 17-10 that establishes them among the elites in a league short on dominating teams.

"Hats off to the offense tonight," Randy Johnson said after surrendering all three of St. Louis' runs on Albert Pujols' 29th and 30th homers. The first was a solo that traveled so far ... well, as Johnson put it, "I think it will probably be landing sometime shortly."

Pujols had his moments, but thanks to another outburst by Giants hitters and exceptional performances by relievers Jeremy Affeldt and Brian Wilson, Pujols did not get a chance to beat the Giants . As a result, Johnson earned his eighth win, tied for second most on the staff.

To understand the significance of the six runs against Carpenter, the most he has allowed in a game since 2006, consider he had surrendered 13 earned runs all season over his first 11 starts, and only one in 21 innings at Busch Stadium.

"I think our club is very aggressive," said Bengie Molina, one of seven Giants , including Johnson, who hit safely against Carpenter. "Against a guy who throws that many strikes, we're going to have better luck. This club swings the bat. We don't walk. That probably plays in our favor."

The Giants scored two first-inning runs on singles by Randy Winn, Pablo Sandoval, Molina and Edgar Renteria. Then, after Pujols hit his first homer, the Giants responded with a four-run rally that Aaron Rowand started with a single and Winn fueled with a double.

Singles by Sandoval and Renteria who had three hits, a Molina sacrifice fly and a Travis Ishikawa double produced the runs. Affeldt preserved the lead by getting a double play with the bases loaded in the sixth. He has not allowed a run in 18 innings.

Wilson got a four-out save, retiring Skip Schumaker, the potential tying run, on an eighth-inning grounder.

The Giants allowed the fewest runs in the league in June 89. No surprise there. At the same time, their production rose. They scored 118 runs - not a powerhouse by any means, but plenty to support this pitching.

Affeldt played for a World Series team two years ago in Colorado. He liked the mix on that team and likes his current team, too.

"Overall, I think this team has a huge opportunity to go to the playoffs," Affeldt said. "I think that our steady mix of veterans, rookies and young-in-experience guys is an advantage for us. I believe we have the ability to win the division. I think we have the ability to win the wild card.

"I think the Dodgers obviously have taken command of first place in the first half, but as many games as we still play them in the second half, anything is possible."

With July comes trading season, and general manager Brian Sabean continues to search for a bat. But there does not seem to be a great longing for one within the clubhouse, at least publicly.

"We believe in what we have here," Winn said. "We never thought we were going to be a team who was going to lead the league in home runs. Pitching and defense were going to be our strengths.

"We're not opposed to getting better, but it makes no sense to sit here and say, 'What if we bring in a Willie Mays or a Willie McCovey or whatever?' It would be great, but all we can control is what we have here now."

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