Castillo's first homer since '06, Lewis' catch lead Giants to 3-2 win over Rockies
By JOSH DUBOW | Associated Press | Apr 30, 08 6:48 PM CDT in
Sports
Jose Castillo ended a 450 at-bat homerless drought with a tiebreaking shot to lead off the seventh inning and Fred Lewis preserved the lead with a diving catch in the eighth that sent the San Francisco Giants to a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday.
Castillo's homer to left field off Ryan Speier (0-1) was his first since Aug. 14, 2006, for Pittsburgh against Milwaukee. It gave the Giants a 3-2 lead they struggled to hold onto.
With a runner on second base and two outs in the eighth inning, Willy Tavares hit a sinking line drive off Tyler Walker to left field. Lewis charged and made a headlong dive to make the catch, popping up and pumping his fist after the play. Walker was also excited with an exaggerated fist pump on the mound and pointing out at Lewis in appreciation.
Aaron Roward also homered for the Giants, who finished their homestand with a 3-3 record. Merkin Valdez (1-0) pitched 1 1-3 hitless innings to earn his first career win and Brian Wilson got three outs for his ninth save in 10 chances.
Ryan Spilborghs hit an RBI double and Garrett Atkins also drove in a run for the defending NL champion Rockies, who have lost nine of 11 and are in need of a day off Thursday. Colorado has played 16 straight days, going 6-10, and could be without Troy Tulowitzki for a while.
Tulowitzki returned to Denver on Wednesday to have an MRI exam on his left leg. He injured himself fielding a ball in the first inning Tuesday and could be headed to the disabled list.
The Rockies got both of their runs in the fifth inning against Jonathan Sanchez with help from a rare bunt single by Todd Helton. After Tavares walked to lead off the frame, Helton laid a bunt down the third-base line. Catcher Steve Holm fielded the ball but his throw to first was too late to get Helton.
Tavarez scored on Atkins' one-out sacrifice fly and Spilborghs followed with an RBI double that gave Colorado a 2-1 lead. The Rockies loaded the bases but Sanchez avoided further damage by getting Jonathan Herrera on a groundout.
The Giants tied the game at 2 on Randy Winn's RBI single that knocked Ubaldo Jimenez out of the game with one out in the sixth inning. Jimenez allowed two runs and three hits in 5 1-3 innings.
Sanchez allowed two runs, five hits and five walks in 5 2-3 innings.
Notes:@ Tavarez matched his career high with three stolen bases. He also did it last season at Florida. ... Atkins went 0-for-4 and had his 14-game hitting streak snapped. ... The Giants, who entered the game 3-9 during the day, took batting practice even after playing a night game Tuesday as manager Bruce Bochy tried to snap the team out of its daytime woes. ... Wilson's nine saves are the most for any Giants pitcher before May 1 since Robb Nen also had nine in 1999. Rod Beck had 11 in 1997.
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