Giants beat Rockies behind Cain's solid start

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Cody Ross hit a go-ahead two-run double in the fourth, Matt Cain pitched seven innings for his first win in more than three weeks and the San Francisco Giants beat the slumping Colorado Rockies 3-1 on Friday night.

Rookie Brandon Crawford added an RBI double and Emmanuel Burris had three hits for the Giants, who beat the Rockies for the sixth time in nine games this season between the NL West rivals.

Cain scattered four hits and had seven strikeouts while overcoming a season-high four walks. The right-hander pitched with runners in scoring position for four straight innings but allowed just the one run.

The Giants returned home after taking three of four from NL Central-leading St. Louis and picked up where they left off, sending the Rockies to their 11th loss in 14 games.

San Francisco did it much like it beat the Cardinals - with solid pitching and timely hitting.

Cain, who allowed a career-high 11 hits in a 6-0 loss to Milwaukee on Sunday, kept Colorado's hitters silent most of the game while Ross and Crawford sparked the Giants' three-run fourth.

That spoiled the road debut of Rockies rookie starter Juan Nicasio (1-1), who allowed nine hits in six innings with three strikeouts and an intentional walk.

Javier Lopez pitched a scoreless eighth and Brian Wilson worked the ninth for his 16th save in 18 chances.

It wasn't easy, but that's generally the case with Wilson. The two-time All-Star closer walked Chris Iannetta with one out then gave up a single to pinch-hitter Jason Giambi. Pinch-hitter Ryan Spilborghs flied out to center before Wilson struck out Seth Smith to end it.

Nicasio got the Rockies first hit off Cain when he doubled down the right field line with one out in the third. Cain returned the favor with a one-out single off Nicasio in the bottom of the inning.

Cain (4-4) matched his season-high for walks by the fourth inning, and Colorado cashed in one for a run. Carlos Gonzalez walked, took third on a double by Troy Tulowitzki and scored on Todd Helton's groundout.

San Francisco responded quickly.

Ross hit a two-run double and Crawford added an RBI double to give the Giants a 3-1 lead in the fourth.

Nicasio became the first pitcher in the majors this season with two extra base hits in the same game when he doubled over the head of center fielder Andres Torres leading off the fifth. The Rockies later loaded the bases with two outs as rain began to fall but Cain retired Helton on a comebacker to escape the threat.

Cain retired the final seven batters he faced to earn only his second win since April 15. Cain improved to 15-0 over the past two seasons when receiving three runs or more of support.

Before the game the buzz at AT&T Park centered around controversial comments made by Giants general manager Brian Sabean on a local radio station on Thursday regarding the season-ending injury suffered by catcher Buster Posey following a collision with Florida's Scott Cousins on May 25.

Sabean criticized Cousins on his weekly radio show on KNBR, calling the play malicious and unnecessary. Sabean also said "if I never hear from Cousins again, or he doesn't play another day in the big leagues, I think we'll all be happy."

Those comments got the attention of Major League Baseball, and executive vice president of baseball operations Joe Torre spoke with Sabean on Friday. The Giants also issued a statement saying Sabean's comments were made out of frustration.

"It's still a pretty raw emotional time for us," team president Larry Baer said. "I mean, to lose (Posey) for the season, a guy who means so much to us. Having said that, we're looking forward and we're looking forward to Buster's recovery. We're certainly out of the business of talking about the incident and revisiting it other than we think it's healthy dialogue to talk about what can be done to protect the player."

Notes: Giants 3B Pablo Sandoval began a rehab assignment with Class A San Jose and could rejoin the team soon. Manager Bruce Bochy said he wants Sandoval - on the DL since May 1 with a fractured hamate bone in his right wrist - to get 25-30 at-bats in the minors before returning to the big league club. ... Struggling IF Miguel Tejada, who went 4 for 27 on the Giants' recent trip, was not in the starting lineup but not because of his .211 average. Bochy said he gave Tejada the day off to rest and will be back in the order Saturday. ... Colorado LHP Jorge De La Rosa underwent Tommy John surgery in Los Angeles on Friday and results were good. "(It) was as diagnosed," Rockies manager Jim Tracy. "The ligament was completely torn in half, and as a matter of fact part of it had rolled up and slid into the joint." De La Rosa was placed on the DL May 25, the day after the left-hander left in the third inning against Arizona with elbow soreness. An MRI revealed De La Rosa had a torn ligament in his elbow. ... RHP Aaron Cook, out since March 31 with a fractured right index finger, is penciled in to start for Colorado against San Diego on Wednesday. ... Rockies RHP Esmil Rogers (lat strain) threw 67 pitches in extended spring training but the team is unsure where he'll go next in his rehab.