Giant Pitching Is Rock Solid Again

The San Francisco Giants head into the All-Star week with a hot pitching staff, a four-game winning streak and a six-game lead in the National League West. The Colorado Rockies simply need a break.

Mark Gardner gave up five hits in six scoreless innings and the Giants won, 7-0, Sunday to sweep their three-game series and keep the Rockies winless in July.

Gardner (9-4), the first of four Giant pitchers, struck out nine as San Francisco heads into the break with a six-game lead over the Dodgers.

“I don’t think we’ve overachieved, but I think we’ve surprised some people,” J.T. Snow said. “There were not a lot of expectations for this team coming out of spring training.”

Snow hit a solo home run--his 13th of the season and eighth in the last 11 games--and added a sacrifice fly.

Colorado, which has lost a season-high six games in a row, scored one run in the series against the Giants. The Rockies, who went into the weekend with the best offense in the NL, have scored six runs in their last six games.

“This club is taking its lumps right now,” Colorado shortstop Walt Weiss said. “It’s been that way for the last week or so. When you’re not able to put two or three hits together or come up with a big inning, ultimately you look like a flat team.”

“A bunch of guys are struggling at the plate, but that isn’t going to last,” Weiss added. “There are too many good hitters in the lineup. The team, sooner or later, will break out of it.”

Damon Berryhill also hit a solo home run for the Giants and had a sacrifice fly. Barry Bonds, Stan Javier and Mark Lewis had RBI singles in a four-run first inning.

“We jumped them early today, that always helps,” said Giants Manager Dusty Baker, whose team has seven shutouts this season. “We gave Mark a big lead early.”

John Burke (2-4) gave up seven runs on eight hits in five innings for his third consecutive loss.

Larry Walker went two for three for Colorado to increase his major league-leading average to .398, but the rest of the Rockies did virtually nothing.

NEXT SERIES FOR DODGERS

WHO: San Francisco Giants

WHERE: at Dodger Stadium

WHEN:

Thursday, 7 p.m.

Friday, 7 p.m.

Saturday, 7 p.m.

Sunday, 1 p.m.