Estes Is a One-Hit Wonder for Giants

Shawn Estes gave up one hit, a first-inning single, in 8 2/3 innings, and tied a career high with 11 strikeouts as the Giants defeated the Rockies, 4-0, Friday night.

Estes (12-2) gave up only a line-drive single to right by Quinton McCracken with one out in the first. McCracken was caught stealing, and Estes retired the next 22 batters before walking Kirt Manwaring to lead off the ninth. He walked Eric Young with two outs and was relieved by Rod Beck, who got the final out for his league-leading 28th save.

Estes, making his first start since being chosen to the All-Star team, added an RBI single and lowered his ERA to 2.51.

Colorado came into the game leading the National League with a .287 batting average.

Estes, who has won eight consecutive decisions, has given up only four runs in his last four starts. During that span, he has 30 strikeouts and 11 walks.

The Giants’ last one-hitter was by Scott Garrelts on July 29, 1990, against Cincinnati.

J.T. Snow had an RBI double in the fourth for the Giants and Estes got his second RBI of the season when he singled in a run in the fifth. Jeff Kent led off the sixth with his 18th homer, and Darryl Hamilton added a run-scoring single in the eighth.

Mark Lewis hit two triples, the first Giant to accomplish that since Darren Lewis in 1993.

The win extended San Francisco’s lead atop the NL West to a season-high six games over the Dodgers, who moved past Colorado into second place.

The Rockies, who are 6 1/2 games behind the Giants, have lost all four games in July. They fell to .500 (43-43) for the first time this season.

Larry Walker, who had been above .400 until Wednesday, went 0 for 3 for Colorado to extend his hitless streak to 14 at-bats and drop his average to .393.

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NEXT SERIES FOR DODGERS

WHO: San Francisco Giants

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