Chris Haft
MLB.com
The Giants haven't proven they can sustain much offense. But they've looked like winners in every other facet, particularly at AT&T Park.
Sunday's 1-0, 10-inning decision over the Rockies enabled the Giants -- the Giants of Barry Zito, Randy Winn and manager Bruce Bochy -- to achieve something that the clubs of Juan Marichal, Barry Bonds and Dusty Baker never could.
The Giants have won their first five home series of the year for the first time since moving to San Francisco in 1958. That's significant for a team that compiled losing records at home in three of the previous four seasons. Winning all four "rubber" games they have played in three-game series has helped.
"It's a good feeling to have that home-field advantage back again," said Rich Aurilia, whose one-out single in the 10th off Manuel Corpas drove in Steve Holm for the game's lone run.
The embodiment of the Giants' resurgence by the bay continues to be Zito, who's winless in five starts yet has maintained command in his past three outings, all at AT&T Park.
Zito pitched seven shutout innings for the second time in three starts, surrendering two hits and retiring 15 consecutive batters from the first through sixth innings. The only Rockie to advance past first base against Zito was Dexter Fowler, who doubled with two outs in the sixth inning.
The same Zito who posted a 7-16 record with a 5.12 ERA at AT&T Park in his first two Giants seasons owns a 1.33 home ERA this year. Zito has trimmed his overall ERA from 10.00 in his first two starts to 3.99.
"All of us who have played for a while know what he's capable of," Aurilia said of Zito, who won the 2002 American League Cy Young Award with Oakland. "It's kind of nice having a guy like that in the fourth spot in your rotation."
By now, observers are familiar with the pressure Zito endured after signing his seven-year, $126 million contract with the Giants and his repeated lapses in concentration during his San Francisco tenure. Zito often has talked about writing a new chapter for himself. It's becoming obvious that he intends to finish this story.
"I just feel more relentless on keeping my mindset where it has to be and not letting the other stuff come into play," said Zito, who benefited from sparkling defensive plays by third baseman Pablo Sandoval and right fielder Nate Schierholtz.
Colorado right-hander Jason Hammel, a Tampa Bay castoff, matched Zito for six innings as Zito's pitch count climbed toward the dangerous 100 level. None of this bothered him as he silenced the Rockies.
"You're not concerned with results, you're not concerned with the score, you're not concerned really with who's up there," Zito said. "You're just concerned with sticking with your approach, no matter what field, what weather, what team you're playing or what the score is."
Zito's approach didn't have to be too intricate because all his pitches were effective.
"When you're throwing your offspeed stuff for strikes, you can get away with leaving your fastball over the plate here and there," Zito said, citing a fat fastball that Brad Hawpe, the final hitter he faced, tapped harmlessly to second base for a double play.
The Giants shared this futility. They won two of three games in the series despite batting .198 (18-for-91), and Sunday they were unable to deliver runners from third base with one out or fewer in the sixth and seventh innings.
San Francisco was hitless in its last 19 at-bats with runners in scoring position when Aurilia, who entered the game in the 10th with right-hander Brandon Medders (1-1) as part of a double-switch, batted in the bottom of the inning. The Giants had one out and Holm on second base, courtesy of the leadoff walk he coaxed from Corpas (0-3) and Winn's sacrifice bunt.
Much like Holm, who played his first game of the season and fell behind on the count, 1-2, Aurilia found himself in an 0-2 hole. But despite the .167 average Aurilia owned entering Sunday, the 14-year veteran remains perhaps the most adept two-strike hitter on the team. He reinforced this reputation by fouling off two pitches before whacking a line drive into left-center field, sealing the Giants' second walk-off triumph of the season and ninth in 12 games.
Moments later, Aurilia settled into the chair in front of his dressing stall and spoke before anybody among the crowd of reporters asked a question.
"One inning's hard work, guys," Aurilia said, provoking laughter.
Ten innings are harder. But the Giants somehow survived.
From: MLB.com
 Colorado (9-14) Lost 1 | San Francisco 1, Colorado 0 |  San Francisco (12-11) Won 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Standings thru 5/3/09 | Recap: COL | SF | Wrap | Gameday |
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