San Francisco, CA (Best E Casino) - Seth Smith produced three hits, including a home run, two RBI and two runs scored while Ubaldo Jimenez pitched six solid innings, as the
Colorado Rockies defeated the
San Francisco Giants, 9-4, in the opener of a three-game series at AT&T Park.
Chris Iannetta and Joe Koshansky both knocked in two runs for the Rockies, who halted a two-game skid and have won four of their last six games overall. Jimenez (12-12) allowed three runs on four hits with four strikeouts and earned the win.
"It was a good offensive night to back up a strong pitching performance," said Colorado manager Clint Hurdle. "We had some big at bats when we needed them."
Aaron Rowand posted two hits with a run scored and a run batted in for the Giants, who have lost six of their last eight games.
San Francisco ace Tim Lincecum suffered the loss after he surrendered six runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings. Lincecum (17-5) also struck out nine and walked five in his second consecutive defeat.
"I felt strong I just wasn't throwing pitches where I needed to be when I should've," said Lincecum. "I got behind a lot of batters and had a few walks in there and that wasn't helping anything. I wasn't attacking the zone enough, plain and simple."
The Rockies opened the scoring in the first when Iannetta's grounder scored a run, but the Giants came back with a three-spot in the home second. Bengie Molina led off with a single and Rich Aurilia walked before a Rowand double scored Molina. Rowand, who moved to third on a groundout, scored on a sacrifice fly by Omar Vizquel and eventually Randy Winn's RBI base hit capped the uprising.
From there, it was all Colorado.
Smith started the third stanza with his fourth home run of the season and in the fourth, two runs scored on Troy Tulowitzki's single, which was originally scored an error.
The top of the fifth saw three more Rockies runs cross the plate. With two runners on base, Koshansky's double scored both and he later came home on a Smith base hit to center.
Iannetta's sac fly in the sixth plated Matt Holliday, who walked leading off and moved to third on a single by Brad Hawpe.
A leadoff home run by Tulowitzki in the top of the eighth made it 9-3 before an RBI double by Nate Schierholtz in the bottom of the ninth capped the scoring.
Game Notes
Jimenez improved to 3-0 over his last four outings...The Rockies lead the season series, 9-7...Smith was a triple shy of hitting for the cycle...Lincecum now has 252 strikeouts this season, which is the most by any Giants pitcher in a single season since the franchise relocated to San Francisco. The previous mark was held by Jason Schmidt (251 Ks in 2004).