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Jimenez returns from DL to face Giants

Apr 19, 2011 - 2:41 PM (Sports Network) - The Rockies have gotten off to an excellent start despite not having ace Ubaldo Jimenez since the start of April. The right-hander makes his return to the rotation this evening as Colorado continues a three-game series with the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field.

A 19-game winner last year, Jimenez was drilled for six runs -- five earned -- on seven hits over just six innings of a no-decision versus Arizona on April 1 as he tried to battle through a cut cuticle on his right thumb. However, the ailment diminished his velocity and sent the 27-year-old to the disabled list.

"I had that worry in my mind, that I couldn't grab the ball," Jimenez told Colorado's official website. "You're fighting against the hitters, and you're fighting against your mind, like, 'It's going to hurt.' If I'd been capable of throwing the ball without hurting my finger, I'd probably throw 92 or 93 [mph] and get some hitters, because I would have been able to locate my fastball. But I had that in my mind, that it was going to hurt."

Jimenez, though, threw five innings and 81 pitches in a rehab start last Wednesday while showing an increase in velocity. He'll need all the speed he can get tonight as he is 5-5 with a 3.13 earned run average in 14 career starts versus the Giants.

The pressure might be on Jimenez to try and match Tim Lincecum's masterful outing for the Giants in last night's opener. Lincecum carried a no-hit bid into the seventh inning and was backed by homers from Pat Burrell, Nate Schierholtz and Freddy Sanchez in an 8-1 victory.

Burrell's homer, a three-run shot in the first inning, was his fifth of the year and helpd the Giants to their fifth victory in six games over the Rockies.

Lincecum didn't allow a hit until Carlos Gonzalez singled with one out in the seventh inning. He would later score on Todd Helton's RBI double, Lincecum's lone blemish over his 7 2/3-inning outing in which he struck out 10 to match Hall of Famer Christy Mathewson for the most double-digit strikeout performances in club history with 28.

"I wasn't really thinking about [the potential no-hitter]," Lincecum said after helping the Giants win for the fifth time in six games. "I was just worried about trying to throw strikes."

San Francisco plated all eight of its runs over the first three innings, tagging Colorado starter Esmil Rogers.

"You certainly can't spot [Lincecum] eight runs," said Rockies manager Jim Tracy, whose team carried an MLB-best 12-3 record into the game but lost for the second time in 10 games.

Giants starter Jonathan Sanchez is coming off his first victory of the season, a win over the Dodgers on Wednesday. The southpaw was charged with three runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings, striking out nine to give him 24 over 16 2/3 innings. He is 1-1 with a 3.24 ERA in three starts this season.

The 28-year-old Sanchez is just 3-4 with a 5.45 ERA in 18 career games versus the Rockies, including 11 starts, but went 1-1 with a 1.93 ERA in three games a season ago.

The Giants and Rockies are meeting for the first time since splitting 18 matchups a season ago.