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Aurilia, Lewis propel Giants past Rockies

Jun 13, 2008 - 1:30 AM By Brady Delander PA SportsTicker Contributing Editor

DENVER (Ticker) -- Rich Aurilia and the San Francisco Giants watched their lead stretch and dwindle over and over, but they had enough juice at the end.

Aurilia collected two hits and three RBI and Fred Lewis hit a three-run homer Thursday to power the Giants to a 10-7 victory over the Colorado Rockies.

Ray Durham went 2-for-5 and drove in two runs and Jonathan Sanchez (6-3) survived five rocky innings to notch the victory.

"This one really makes it a good road trip," said Giants manager Bruce Bochy, whose team finished 5-2 away from home.

With San Francisco already leading, 1-0, in the second inning on an RBI single by Sanchez, Lewis drilled an offering from Colorado rookie starter Greg Reynolds (1-4) over the right-center field wall to give the Giants a four-run bulge.

"The problems Greg had were based on command, he couldn't get the ball down," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "He had no answers for the lefthanded hitters and the walk-strikeout ratio was alarming to me. This is the first game he got barreled."

Sanchez's hit snapped an 0-for-18 drought.

"He can swing the bat just fine," Bochy said. "He did that today."

Aurilia's RBI single in a two-run third inning helped give the Giants a 6-2 lead, and Durham's base hit up the middle in the fourth gave San Francisco an 8-4 advantage. The single was the 2,000th hit of Durham's 14-year career.

Durham could still recall his first major league hit, a bunt single as a member of the Chicago White Sox on April 26, 1995.

"Off Ricky Bones in Milwaukee," Durham said. "To be around long enough to get 2,000, it's quite an accomplishment."

After the Rockies cut the deficit to 8-7 on Garrett Atkins' three-run double in the bottom of the fifth, Aurilia came through with a clutch two-out, two-run single in the seventh to provide the final margin.

"These are the games that over the years I've become accustomed to playing here," Aurilia said.

Sanchez surrendered seven runs, nine hits and three walks while striking out five.

"I didn't have my best stuff today, the ball just wasn't moving for me," Sanchez said.

Four relievers combined to allow three hits in three innings before closer Brian Wilson struck out two in a perfect ninth to record his 19th save of the season.

Reynolds was tagged for eight runs, 10 hits and a walk in just 3 1/3 innings.

Matt Holliday and Yorvit Torrealba each drove in two runs for Colorado.

"We had opportunities to score more runs," Hurdle said. "It all depends upon your perception. You get seven runs and you should win."