San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Darren Ford scored on a crazy turn of events after a wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth frame, as the Giants edged the Rockies, 2-1, at AT&T Park.
In a battle of marquee hurlers, Mike Fontenot worked a walk off Ubaldo Jimenez to start the home eighth then Tim Lincecum's sacrifice bunt moved the pinch- runner Ford to second. With Andres Torres at the plate, Jimenez bounced a pitch that was blocked by kicked away from Miguel Olivo. Ford took off for third and Olivo's throw sailed high and wide of Melvin Mora, as Ford raced home with the go-ahead run.
Brian Wilson slammed the door in the ninth for his 38th save. The Giants remained 1 1/2 games behind the wild card leaders, Philadelphia, with their third win in four games and moved within three games of the fading Padresin the National League West race. It was a welcome win for Lincecum (12-9), who had not won since July 30th and had lost five straight starts. He gave up one run on five hits with nine strikeouts and one walk over eight frames.
Jimenez (17-6) failed to become the first National League pitcher this season to reach 18 victories, giving up the two runs on four hits with 10 strikeouts and three walks over eight frames.
The Rockies dropped 5 1/2 games behind the Phillies in the wild card race.
Colorado scored first in the fourth as Carlos Gonzalez stroked a home run over the wall in left-center field. It was one of three hits for Gonzalez off the right-hander on the game.
The Giants finally got to Jimenez in the fifth, starting with Jose Guillen's leadoff single. Buster Posey then walked, and after Pablo Sandoval struck out, Fontenot slapped a run-scoring single to center. Jimenez escaped further damage by getting Lincecum to bounce into a double play.
The Rockies put two runners on base in the top of the seventh, but Lincecum struck out Eric Young, Jr. to end the threat.
Wilson induced three consecutive fly outs in the ninth to record the save.
Jimenez is still tied with Adam Wainwright for the National League lead with 17 victories. Jimenez failed in his fifth attempt to become the first Rockies pitcher to win 18 games in a single season. Kevin Ritz (1996), Pedro Astacio (1999) and Jeff Francis (2007) all won 17 games for the Rockies...The two teams have battled it out this season with Colorado holding a slight 8-7 series lead...Gonzalez hit his 30th home run of the season...The Giants reinstated shortstoph Edgar Renteria and pitcher Dan Runzler from the 15-day disabled list on Wednesday. The club also recalled Ford from Double-A Richmond prior the game, and he scored the winning run.