On the same day that Matt Cain earned his first victory of the season, shutting out the Rockies 4-0, the Giants announced they would be moving struggling starter Barry Zito to the bullpen. Rookie Pat Misch will take over for Zito or Kevin Correia, who recently went on the disabled list.
The Rockies batters made Cain work, but did not score off him in five and a third innings of work, however they did reach base five times thanks to walks issued by him. Vinne Chulk finished off the sixth and seventh innings, and allowed just one hit before giving the ball to Tyler Walker. Walker pitched a near perfect eighth inning, also allowing just one hit. Brian Wilson secured the shutout win in the ninth inning, he gave up two hits, but retired the Rockies with three strikeouts in the ninth.
The Giants scored two first inning runs to give Cain a lead to work with, and added two more in the fifth. Shortstop Emmanuel Burriss reached base on a bunt single in the first, and advanced to second on a balk. Ray Durham drove him in with a bloop single before putting himself in scoring position with a steal of second base. Centerfielder Aaron Rowand helped score Durham with a two-out single. The Giants other two runs were scored via the bases loaded walk, twice! The fifth inning rally was produced by the Rockies pitchers inability to find the strike zone. San Francisco leads the Major League in stolen bases now, with thirty-one; last night they stole four, two were by Durham, and the other two by Eugenio Velez and Randy Winn.
Emerging star, Tim Lincecum will look for his fifth win of the season tonight at 7:15 p.m. in the second game of the series. Aaron Cook, who is 3-1 with a 2.91 earned run average will pitch for Colorado. It should be a well pitched, low scoring game.
