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Aurilia comes up big again as Giants beat Rockies

Aug 28, 2007 - 6:07 AM By Ryan McCrary PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) - Rich Aurilia came through once again.

Aurilia drove in the go-head run in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the San Francisco Giants to a 4-1 triumph over the Colorado Rockies in Monday's series opener.

Randy Winn, Barry Bonds and Ryan Klesko all singled against Rockies reliever Jorge Julio (0-5) to start the eighth and load the bases. After Bengie Molina's grounder forced Winn at home plate, Aurilia laced an RBI single to left to break the 1-1 tie.

Kevin Frandsen then added some more insurance with a two-run double down the third base line to chase Julio and complete the three-run uprising.

"I went up there against Julio and was fortunate," Frandsen said. "After Richie's big hit, that was pumping me up, just the fact that Richie got that hit and put us up on top. Right now we're at the point where you don't worry about the standings. We're playing very good baseball."

The Giants extended their winning streak to four games and have captured won 10 of their last 12 ballgames.

"Richie and (Frandsen) came through big time, they really delivered," San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. "Had a good pitcher they were facing, throws hard. That's what wins ballgames for you and it all started with Randy Winn getting us going. It got contagious there."

On Sunday, Aurilia's bloop RBI single in the eighth help San Francisco sweep the fading Milwaukee Brewers.

"It's good to win a few in a row and play good baseball," Aurilia said. "When you're winning like this, you're having fun. It makes it easier to come out to the ballpark."

Giants reliever Brian Wilson (1-0) pitched a scoreless eighth for the win and closer Brad Hennessey logged the ninth for his 15th save.

However, the night belonged to San Francisco starter Barry Zito, who rediscovered his form that earned him a huge contract this past offseason. The former Cy Young Award winner threw seven stellar innings, yielding one run and four hits with seven strikeout on 105 pitches.

"I just pitched to my strengths," Zito said. "Don't think so much about what they're doing. Like I always say, think about what I'm doing and usually when you do that, things go your way."

San Francisco opened the scoring in the fourth as starter Josh Fogg issued three walks - including an intentional free pass to Bonds with Winn at second - before Klesko slapped a run-scoring single to right for a 1-0 edge.

Colorado responded immediately with a solo home run to the arcade in right field by Brad Hawpe - his 24th - to start the fifth.

"It was a 3-2 fastball up," Hawpe said. "He got me with it the at-bat before."

San Francisco threatened once again in the bottom of the fifth as Dave Roberts and Winn both singled with two outs. But Fogg got Bonds to ground into a fielder's choice to end the inning.

"I located the ball much better," Fogg said. "I was able to locate the fastball and that's what my other pitches work off of. I got a lot of ground balls early. I got myself in a little bit of trouble and walked a few guys, but for the most part it was a pretty good outing."

After allowing just four hits in the first six innings, Zito encountered problems in the seventh. Garrett Atkins reached on Aurilia's fielding error followed by a five-pitch walk to Yorvit Torrealba. Hawpe's first career sacrifice advanced the runners to second and third, but Zito got Jamey Carroll to ground out and fanned pinch hitter Ian Stewart.

"I got the bunt sign, so I better get the bunt down," Hawpe said. "That was it. I did what I was asked to do."

"I was very happy (Hawpe) hit the home run, but I mean you're managing the game, you've got a lot of numbers to look at, a lot of history to look at and you try and make the best decisions you can to win the game," Colorado manager Clint Hurdle said.

Fogg went six innings, allowing one run and three hits with four walks and one strikeout. Colorado All-Star Brian Fuentes came on in relief and retired the side in order in the seventh before Julio entered.