Tim Lincecum wasn't his usual self on Monday night and it showed in the Colorado Rockies' 7-4 victory over the San Francisco Giants. Carlos Gonzalez three-run home run (5) in the sixth inning proved to be the decisive play of the game.
But before the Gonzalez could deliver the magic, the Rockies needed to mount a comeback two separate times. The Giants scored the first run of the game on a wild pitch by Clayton Mortensen (Miguel Tejada started the inning with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice before scoring). Two innings later in the bottom of the fifth, Clayton Moretensen worked a walk to start the inning and moved to second on a Dexter Fowler single. After a Carlos Gonzalez walk, Tulowitzki laced the ball up center field to plate two runs for the 2-1 lead. However, momentum stalled when Carlos Gonzalez recorded the second out of the inning at third base, which he attempted to steal.
Mortensen was still in the game for the sixth inning, but gave up a leadoff home run to Andres Torres for the tie. With two outs, Nate Schierholtz knocked a ball out of the park for two runs and a 4-2 lead. But now it was Lincecum's turn to be hit upon. Seth Smith started the inning with a homer (4), and Jose Lopez singled and moved to second on a Lincecum throwing error. Dexter Fowler eventually singled in a run before a Jonathan Herrera base knock set the stage for Gonzalez's three-run home run for the 7-4 lead.
Lincecum (3-4) went just 5.2 innings and allowed seven runs (three earned) on nine hits and six walks. He extended his scoreless innings streak to 21 before Tulowitzki's two-run single in the fifth. Mortensen picked up his first win in 2011 and his first one as a Rockies pitcher. He went six innings and allowed all four runs. Matt Belisle, Matt Reynolds, Rafael Betancourt, Matt Lindstrom and Huston Street were all used to close out the win. Street now had 13 saves.
The series concludes Tuesday afternoon with Jonathan Sanchez and Ubaldo Jimenez toeing the rubber. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. MT.
For more on the Rockies, head on over to Purple Row. To learn about the Giants, visit McCovey Chronicles and SB Nation Bay Area.