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Rookies Smith, Koshansky power Rockies past Giants

Sep 24, 2008 - 6:38 AM SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- Rookies Seth Smith and Joe Koshansky each had two RBI as the Colorado Rockies posted a 9-4 rout of the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday.

After Colorado fell behind by two runs early, Smith stroked his seventh home run - a solo shot - off Tim Lincecum (17-5) in the third inning to narrow the deficit to 3-2. The 25-year-old helped put the Rockies on top for good in the fourth, when he ripped a ground-rule double to center field and came home on a two-run single by Troy Tulowitzki.

"I was just fortunate to get a ball over the plate," Smith said. "I'm not trying to guess. I'm just trying to get a ball over the plate and get the barrel to it. Home runs for me are mistakes. They'll happen every once in a while and it's not something I try to do."

Koshansky sealed the victory in the fifth, giving Colorado a 6-3 lead with a two-run double off reliever Keiichi Yabu and scoring three batters later on Smith's single to center.

"We were facing one of the better pitchers and were able to square some balls big time," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "We had some big at-bats when we needed them. We got down and battled back. It was a real good offensive night to back up a strong starting pitching performance."

Lincecum did not help his cause for the National League Cy Young Award, surrendering six runs and five hits in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out nine to raise his major league-leading total to 252 and eclipse Jason Schmidt's franchise record of 251 set in 2004.

"I felt strong. I just wasn't throwing pitches where I needed them to be," Lincecum said. "I got behind a lot of batters and had a few walks in there and that wasn't helping anything. I wasn't attacking the zone enough, plain and simple.

"To come out there throwing like that and leaving like I did, I don't feel that's me. I feel like I should have given my team a better chance to win and if you're going to take anything positive from the game, I guess that's it (strikeout record)."

The 24-year-old righthander battled with his command throughout, walking five en route to his second loss in as many starts.

"He had good stuff. He just made a few more mistakes than he normally does," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "He has worked so hard. He had come off two complete games. We were hoping he could get through the fifth. This kid has been grinding hard. He just got a few more balls up tonight."

The Giants scored three runs against Rockies starter Ubaldo Jimenez (12-12) in the second. After Bengie Molina singled and Aurilia walked to lead off the frame, Aaron Rowand plated Molina with an RBI single.

Eugenio Velez followed with a ground ball to third base and Aurilia was throw out at the plate. But Rowand advanced to third on the play and scored on Omar Vizquel's sacrifice fly to center before Randy Winn capped the inning with an RBI single.

Jimenez (12-12) allowed three runs and four hits in six innings. He walked four and struck out four, collecting his first career victory against San Francisco.

"At first my fastball command wasn't there. After (the second) inning everything depends on my fastball and I was able to locate it," Jimenez said. "I knew what I was doing bad and was able to change it."