[Quack Attack]

Rockies still threatening to join race





August 25, 2008 - 11:53PM

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SAN FRANCISCO • Jeff Francis got his first victory in more than two months, Yorvit Torrealba homered and the Colorado Rockies won for the eighth time in 10 games, beating the San Francisco Giants 4-2 on Monday night.

Francis was winless in his past five starts but maintained his recent domination of the Giants by allowing seven hits over seven innings and repeatedly pitching his way out of trouble after giving up two runs in the first inning.

The Rockies' left-hander, who has won his past four starts against San Francisco, worked out of a bases-loaded jam with no outs in the third and benefited from a pair of double plays.

Troy Tulowitzki had two hits and an RBI, and Ian Stewart and Garrett Atkins had two hits each for Colorado, which won its third straight. The Rockies also pulled within seven games of Arizona in the National League West.

Randy Winn went 3-for-4 for San Francisco, which had its season-high five-game winning streak snapped. It was only the Giants' second loss in their past nine games against teams within their division.

San Francisco starter Matt Cain had not lost in his previous four starts but ran into trouble early when Torrealba homered in the second after Stewart's leadoff single. It was the second home run given up by Cain in his past two starts after the San Francisco righty had gone 13 straight outings without allowing one. The Rockies scored the go-ahead run when Omar Quintanilla drew a one-out walk off Cain in the fourth and scored on Tulowitzki's triple to rightcenter. Pinch-hitter Jeff Baker added an insurance run with a sacrifice ly in the eighth.
That was enough for Francis, who made the lead stand up for his first win since June 18. He was on the disabled list from July 2 to Aug. 6 because of inflammation in his left shoulder.

Manny Corpas pitched a scoreless eighth and Brian Fuentes pitched a perfect ninth for his 26th save in 30 chances.

San Francisco was coming off a three-game sweep of San Diego and was within two games of the Rockies for third in the division but couldn't get much going after getting to Francis for two runs in the ffrst. The Giants loaded the bases with no outs in the third but failed to score when Francis got Aaron Rowand to hit into a force play at home before Bengie Molina grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Colorado reliever Matt Herges threw on the side without pain and is scheduled to do so again before going on a rehab assignment.