Double-Time Pays for Vizcaino, Giants

As soon as he hit the ball, Jose Vizcaino was thinking about reaching second base, and his aggressive baserunning paid off for the San Francisco Giants.

Vizcaino doubled and later scored on Jeff Kent’s single to break an eighth-inning tie Saturday and give the Giants a 2-1 victory over the struggling Colorado Rockies.

Colorado has lost five in a row to match its longest losing streak of the year. The Rockies have scored six runs in those five losses.

Vizcaino led off the eighth with a line drive to left-center off Mike Munoz (1-3) that he stretched into a double.

“I knew when I hit the ball and where they were playing that I would go for a double,” Vizcaino said. “And when I turned at first base I saw he [center fielder Quinton McCracken] wasn’t running hard to catch the ball. I guess he never thought I was going to keep going.”

Stan Javier followed with a single to right, sending Vizcaino to third. Barry Bonds bounced into a force play, with Vizcaino holding at third.

Steve Reed pitched to Kent, who lined a single to left to score the go-ahead run.

“My single scored a run, but I hope nobody forgets about Jose’s single-and-a-half,” Kent said.

Julian Tavarez (2-2) got one out in the eighth for the win. Rod Beck pitched the ninth for his league-leading 29th save as the Giants won their third game in a row.

The Giants, who are a season-high 14 games above .500, are 31-14 in games decided by two runs or fewer.

“We’re generally in ballgames, and we have a tendency to win a lot of close games, which good teams do,” Giant Manager Dusty Baker said. “Atlanta has been doing it for years, and we’re learning how to do it now.”

Vinny Castilla hit his 22nd home run to lead off the Colorado second. The Giants tied the score in the fourth on Rick Wilkins’ RBI double.