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Castillo's homer helps Giants edge Rockies

May 1, 2008 - 1:28 AM By Ryan Leong PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- Jose Castillo and Aaron Rowand homered Wednesday, leading the San Francisco Giants to a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies.

Castillo belted his first homer of the season - a solo shot - in the seventh inning off Ryan Speier (0-1), giving San Francisco a 3-2 lead.

Rowand ripped a solo homer to lead off the second, helping Merkin Valdez (1-0) record his first career win with 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief.

"Offensively we're starting to put things together and finding an identity for ourselves," Rowand said. "A lot of guys are coming in here to play everyday and not worrying about anything other than getting a W."

San Francisco won the rubber game of the series and finished its six-game homestand at 3-3 and 13-16 overall.

"If you look at the month, I don't think a lot of the so-called baseball experts would have thought we would have 13 wins in April," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "And my hope is that people realize this is a better ball club than they give them credit for, and I hope at the end of the season, this is a club that continues to get better."

The Giants received another strong outing from starter Jonathan Sanchez, who has proven to be the team's most reliable lefthander this season.

With Barry Zito being demoted to the bullpen after going 0-6 with a 7.53 ERA, Sanchez has been outstanding, posting a 3.48 ERA over six starts.

Sanchez was cruising until the fifth inning Wednesday, when he walked three and gave up two runs.

"I just got behind on guys, trying to throw my sinker for strikes and couldn't throw it," Sanchez said. "And then when I couldn't throw my changeup for strikes I had to fight out there to get out of it. But they (Bochy and pitching coach Dave Righetti) feel comfortable with me being out there and getting people out."

Willy Taveras led off the fifth with a walk and Todd Helton executed a perfect bunt, putting runners at first and second. Taveras advanced to third on a flyout and scored on a sacrifice fly by Garrett Atkins.

Helton advanced to second and eventually scored on a double by Ryan Spilborghs, giving the Rockies a 2-1 lead.

Taveras walked with one out in the sixth and stole second and third. After striking out Helton, Sanchez was taken out for Valdez, who got Matt Holliday to fly out to right to end the inning.

Sanchez worked 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs, five hits and five walks with four strikeouts.

"I'm getting more comfortable on the mound," Sanchez said. "I'm going out there focusing on strikes and getting my pitches working. That's what I'm trying to do right now."

Brian Wilson closed out the ninth for his ninth save.

In the sixth, San Francisco's Fred Lewis walked and advanced to second on a groundout. Randy Winn's soft line drive to center scored Lewis, tying the game at 2-2.

Colorado had a chance to tie the game in the eighth. Pinch hitter Scott Podsednik led off with a walk and advanced to second on a throwing error by reliever Tyler Walker on a pickoff attempt.

After pinch hitter Brad Hawpe flied out to center, Lewis preserved the lead with a diving catch to rob Taveras of a hit.

The Rockies left 12 men on base and had a miserable road trip, losing five of six contests to drop five games below .500.

"That's a lot (of runners) left on," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "It's unfortunately been the month of April and it's continued to be a thorn for us. But April's over, now we can turn our eyes on May. We've got to focus on May and get things going in a much better fashion."

Ubaldo Jimenez had one of his best outings this season for the Rockies, pitching 5 1/3 innings and allowing two runs, three hits and two walks with four strikeouts.

"He did the things we like to see and I would have loved to have seen us have a 5-1 lead and let him work longer in the game to see another bit of a test for him," Hurdle said. "He had marked improvement. The efficiency with the pitches was probably the most significant thing for Ubaldo."