NL Roundup: A look at Wednesday's games

Tim Lincecum beat Ubaldo Jimenez in a battle of National League aces in desperate need of a win.

Lincecum allowed five hits over eight strong innings in the San Francisco Giants' 2-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night.

It was a boost of confidence for Lincecum (12-9) won for the first time since July 30. He hung tough in an impressive pitchers' duel between the two-time reigning NL Cy Young Award winner and the guy who may unseat him for the honour this season.

"I had a different mentality," Lincecum said. "This is a big moment and I've got to step up. I wanted to start off the month well."

Lincecum struck out nine and walked one in his eight innings. All-star closer Brian Wilson pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his NL-leading 38th save in 42 chances.

Jimenez (17-6) was denied in his fifth attempt at a franchise-record 18th win. He lost his third straight start and fourth consecutive decision dating to a win over San Francisco on Aug. 4.

He struck out 10 in eight innings, allowing only three hits.

"You want to talk about a hard-luck loser," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. "The way he was throwing the ball tonight, it wouldn't have taken too many (runs), I can promise you that."

Elsewhere in the NL it was: Philadelphia 5 Los Angeles 1; Arizona 5 San Diego 2; Cincinnati 6 Milwaukee 1; Houston 5 St. Louis 2; Florida 16 Washington 10; and Chicago 5 Pittsburgh 3.

At San Francisco, recent double-A callup Darren Ford entered as a pinch-runner and scored the go-ahead run from second base on a wild pitch and throwing error in the eighth inning.

"I knew it would be bang-bang," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "I'll say this, the kid didn't hesitate. He can fly. That's a great call-up. He comes up and helps us win the game. He showed no fear up there."

The Giants gained another game on the first-place Padres, pulling within three games in the NL West race after San Diego lost its seventh in a row.

"You never lose sight of winning your division," Bochy said.

Ford, on second after Lincecum's sacrifice bunt, broke for third when Jimenez's pitch bounced in the dirt and off catcher Miguel Olivo's shin guard. Olivo scrambled to his left and quickly retrieved the ball before firing past lunging third baseman Melvin Mora.

"I know what my role is, to go out there and try to steal a base and get in scoring position," said Ford, who impressed Bochy way back in spring training. "I trust my instincts."

Ford came through hours after being called up from double-A Richmond. Veterans Aubrey Huff and Pat Burrell exchanged chest slaps, while Pablo Sandoval greeted Ford with a big hug in the dugout.

Second baseman Freddy Sanchez, facing the outfield, made an over-the-shoulder catch on Mora's popup to end it. Sanchez laid flat on his back in relief as the crowd at AT&T Park roared.

Carlos Gonzalez homered to start the fourth for the Rockies, who did little else against Lincecum on a night the hard-throwing right-hander looked like his old self again. Gonzalez had three of Colorado's five hits.

Winning this series for the Giants was huge considering they dropped the opener Monday on a bizarre broken-bat triple. San Francisco leaves town for a 10-game road trip all against the division.

Jimenez didn't allow a hit until Jose Guillen singled to right leading off the fifth. Buster Posey walked and Sandoval struck out swinging before Mike Fontenot's RBI single made it 1-all.

Jimenez has a 2.92 ERA over his last five starts.

"That's part of life and that's part of baseball," Jimenez said. "Things one day are going to go your way and then the other time it's going to be the other way. You never know when it's going to change. The only thing I can do is just try to keep going hard and giving my team a chance."

Lincecum of anybody understands a tough stretch. This outing, he pushed any thoughts of mechanics out of his mind and just pitched.

Lincecum went 1-3 last September and expects more from himself this time to keep his team in the playoff chase. They haven't been to the post-season since 2003.

"This is going to be a big month for us," Lincecum said. "I'm going to try to take that momentum into the next series."

Phillies 5 Dodgers 1

At Los Angeles, Roy Oswalt pitched one-hit ball into the seventh and Philadelphia used leadoff homers by Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino in the first two innings to beat the Dodgers.

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At Phoenix, Brandon Allen had an impressive 2010 debut with Arizona, hitting a grand slam and making several rangy catches in left field to help the Diamondbacks send reeling San Diego to its seventh straight loss.

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At Cincinnati, Aroldis Chapman hit 103 miles per hour on the radar gun during another sizzling inning, then got his first big league win when the Reds rallied to beat Milwaukee.

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At Houston, Hunter Pence hit a three-run homer and the Astros completed a sweep of St. Louis, handing the fading Cardinals their fifth straight defeat and 13th in 16 games.

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At Atlanta, Tommy Hanson finally got some run support and won for the first time in nearly two months, allowing one hit in seven shutout innings to lead the Braves past New York.

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At Miami, Nyjer Morgan charged the mound after a pitch sailed behind him, triggering a bench-clearing brawl during Florida's wild win over Washington.

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At Chicago, Kosuke Fukudome had three hits, including a go-ahead double, during a perfect day at the plate to lead the Cubs past Pittsburgh.