Where, then, to start about a game that didn’t want to end?
With San Francisco boy wonder Tim Lincecum? Nope, he looked more sigh young than Cy Young on a jacket-required Tuesday night at Coors Field. Perhaps with the endurance of Rockies reliever Jason Grilli? He worked three innings, fanning four and served as a human fire extinguisher for every Giants rally. Yep, getting warmer.
How about a Rockies clubhouse flush with call-ups, including Dexter Fowler? He will occupy plenty of hype and type in the coming seasons, but had an inauspicious debut after getting thrown out on a botched stolen-base attempt in the 10th inning when he thought there was a pitchout.
Nope, just go to the 12th, where Ryan Spilborghs decided it was everyone’s bedtime with one swing, his laser single to right field scoring Omar Quintanilla to secure a nervy 6-5 victory.
“My attitude in that situation is that I can’t fail,” Spilborghs said. “If I get a hit, I am a hero. If not, I keep grinding.”
Colorado, at last, made progress, its bravado tinged with hope after moving closer to the division-leading Diamondbacks for the first time in eight days. The Rockies sit five games back with 22 to play, the closest they have been since April 21. Picture Lloyd proposing to Mary in “Dumb & Dumber” — “So you’re saying there’s a chance” — and you get the idea of the postgame vibe.
“Oh, I remember what they did last year,” said starter Livan Hernandez, a former Diamondback who is settling in with the Rockies.
That this win required drama stood in stark contrast to the early action. The Rockies did something in the fourth inning that seemed implausible a week ago. They hammered Lincecum, who had been making a strong bid to overtake Brandon Webb as the National League’s top pitcher.
Matt Holliday knocked in a run, hardly an accident given the adjustments made in batting practice to prevent his front side from coming off the ball. Brad Hawpe plated him with a double and Troy Tulowitzki, who has hit .333 in the second half, belted his first home run at Coors Field in two months.
A five-run lead, Lincecum unplugged, the Rockies had the feel of a heavyweight champ standing over an opponent with a scowl. But the comfort was short-lived, as the Giants rabbit-punched their way from annoyance to genuine threat. Shortstop Omar Vizquel, who rarely plays anymore as the Giants usher in a youth movement, provided most of the damage. He plated three runs in his first multi-RBI game of the season, knotting the score at 5-all.
In a game where it seemed like everybody but Bruce Ruffin and Curtis Leskanic pitched, Grilli got the most critical outs. With two aboard in the 10th, he fanned Emmanuel Burriss, whose diving catch of Ian Stewart’s liner forced extra innings.
Grilli brought emotion with multiple fist pumps. Spilborghs brought closure with a punch to right.
“There was no way I was going to be the guy that lost this game,” Grilli said. “This is big for us.”
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
TODAY: Giants at Rockies, 1:05 p.m.
For Aaron Cook (16-8, 3.88 ERA), this outing could be historic. He can tie the Rockies’ season record for victories, shared by Jeff Francis, Pedro Astacio and Kevin Ritz. Cook pitched with confidence in a win over the Padres, unafraid to make a mistake at forgiving Petco Park. Stamina has been an issue with Cook since back problems arose. He didn’t work seven innings once last month. The right-hander is 2-1 against the Giants this year. Giants left-hander Barry Zito (8-16, 5.62) is trying avoid 20 losses in a season. Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
Thursday:
Off day
Friday:
Astros’ Brian Moehler (10-5, 4.02) vs. Rockies’ Ubaldo Jimenez (9-12, 4.19), 7:05 p.m., FSN
Saturday:
Astros’ Wandy Rodriguez (8-6, 3.76) vs. Rockies’ Jeff Francis (4-8, 5.14), 6:05 p.m., KTVD-20
Sunday:
Astros’ Roy Oswalt (13-9, 3.91) vs. Rockies’ Jorge De La Rosa (8-7, 5.23), 1:05 p.m., FSN
