In a place where most games look like homerun derbies, last night was a bit of a surprise. Tim Lincecum and Ubaldo Jimenez matched up for what turned out to be a pitching duel, the Giants second in three games. Just when it looked as if the game would head to extra innings, the Rockies walked off in the ninth inning with a 1-0 win.
Lincecum did not do anything wrong over seven innings, striking out nine batters and allowing six hits and three walks. He pitched well enough to win, but was matched by his counterpart Jimenez in what would result a battle of the bullpens. Tyler Walker pitched a perfect eighth inning with a strikeout. Keiichi Yabu was brought in to help send the game to the tenth inning, but was unable to retire any of the three batters he faced, two reached base on walks, and another on a hit. With the bases loaded and the winning run just ninety feet away with no outs, manager Bruce Bochy brought in Jack Taschner from the bullpen to try to neutralize the threat. Taschner got the first out on a shallow fly to centerfield, and then got the second out on a fly to leftfielder Fred Lewis. Garrett Atkins tagged at third and scored on the sacrifice fly, but it was a close play at home. Bengie Molina was unable to control the near perfect throw from Lewis and made the tag with an empty mitt.
Both teams struggled to produce any offense in the friendliest hitters park in the league. San Francisco combined for six hits, two of which came off Lewis’ bat. Ray Durham, Aaron Rowand, John Bowker, and Jose Castillo each had hits. All of the Giants hits were singles. As a team, the Giants were only able to work two walks out of the Rockies pitching staff, Randy Winn recieved one and pinch-hitter Brian Horwitz got the other.
The Giants will attempt to salvage a win tomorrow from this Colorado series before returning home to host interleague play. The final game is set for 12:05 p.m. Jonathan Sanchez pitched well in his last start and will try to recreate that same effort against Rockies pitcher Greg Reynolds.
