Bagg's Instant Replay: Giants 4, Rockies 2

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DENVERA season ago, 22-year-old Madison Bumgarner didnt get his first victory until May 19. Jamie Moyer, 49, was trying to become the oldest pitcher in history to win a major league game.

Bumgarner is the young. But not the restless.

The left-hander no-hit the Colorado Rockies into the sixth inning, the Giants pieced together enough against Moyer and Brian Wilson infused more torture -- plus a visit to the mound from trainer Dave Groeschner -- into his first save chance as the Giants claimed a 4-2 victory on a windy Thursday afternoon at Coors Field.

Bumgarner (1-1) ensured he wouldnt start the year on a personal winless streak while helping the Giants complete their road trip with a 2-4 record -- a mark they gladly accepted after getting swept in a season-opening series at Arizona.

The Giants scored at least four runs in all six games on this road trip. Thats something they did in just 39.5 percent of their games last season.

One difference, though: They were an MLB-best 55-9 last year when they scored four runs. On this trip, they only won twice -- both times when they received a quality start (Barry Zito, Bumgarner).

Starting pitching report: Less than 15 hours after the Rockies blasted out 22 hits, Bumgarner calmly held them without a safety until the sixth inning.

Thats when Tyler Colvin, who entered the previous inning on a double switch, hit a sinking line drive to left field. Melky Cabrera gave a game effort, but his diving attempt came up short and Colvin ended up with a triple.

Bumgarner allowed two more singles that inning and the Rockies brought the dangerous Troy Tulowitzki to the plate as the tying run. But Bumgarner got him to ground out to third base to end the threat.

In a bit of a surprise, Giants manager Bruce Bochy let Bumgarner go out for the eighth inning with 102 pitches. Bumgarner gave up a single and retired Colvin on a pop-up, but not before worked him for a 13-pitch at-bat. With 117 pitches, Bumgarners day was done.

Bumgarner held the Rockies to one run on four hits and two walks in 7 13 innings. He struck out two. All in all, it was a huge improvement from his four-inning, four-run, two-homer fireworks show at Arizona.

Bullpen report: Sergio Romo and Javier Lopez made their pitches to escape the eighth. After Romo walked Dexter Fowler, Lopez retired Carlos Gonzalez on a broken-bat grounder to strand two runners. Hes stranded five runners in his three outings.

Wilson was vintage Wilson while recording his first save since . He allowed a run on three hits and a bases-loaded walk, but got lucky when Todd Heltons line drive found Emmanuel Burrisss glove at second base.

Wison converted his first save since Sept. 21, but just barely. The 95 mph fastball he unleashed a night earlier only topped 90 mph a couple of times and Groeschner went to the mound after catcher Buster Posey signaled for him after a 1-0 pitch to Colvin. Wilson threw one more warmup pitch and continued, but looked out of sorts as he walked Colvin to force in a run.

He got Marco Scutaro to fly out to right field with the bases loaded to end it.

At the plate: Cabrera reached base three times and collected two RBI hits, capping a highly successful first road trip as a Giant. He hit safely in all six games, batting .385 with a home run and three doubles among his 10 hits.

Brandon Crawford continued to prove that he can hit left-handers; he had a double and single against Moyer and scored a run.

The Giants got their first run off Moyer in the third inning, when Pablo Sandoval, Buster Posey and Brett Pill hit consecutive singles. Pills hit was a pop-up that stuck like a lob wedge in right-center field. Sandoval made a good one-out read, scoring easily from second base.

Struggling leadoff man Angel Pagan had his average drop to .095 before digging out a pitch for an RBI single in the sixth.

In the field: Second baseman Ryan Theriot didnt distinguish himself with the glove this spring, but he made a nice diving stop to his right and flipped to force Carlos Gonzalez in the fourth inning.

Bochy still made a defensive switch and took out Theriot for Emmanuel Burriss in the eighth inning. That turned out to be a brilliant move, as Burriss made a lunging catch of Todd Heltons line drive with the bases loaded in the ninth.

Fowler, the Rockies center fielder, demonstrated why Little League coaches always preach to use two hands. He nonchalantly dropped Theriots fly ball to start the sixth inninga two-base error that led to an unearned run.

Attendance: It was AARP day at Coors Field. The Rockies announced 25,860 paid. Many complained the music was too loud between innings.

Up next: The Giants will host their 13th home opener at AT&T Park, welcoming the Pittsburgh Pirates. Fridays game (1:35 PDT first pitch) pits Matt Cain against right-hander James McDonald.

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