For Starters, Brower Gets Job Done

Jim Brower pitched six strong innings, Pedro Feliz hit a two-run homer and Rich Aurilia had a bases-loaded triple for the San Francisco Giants in a 7-0 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Friday night.

Brower, a converted reliever, tied his career high with seven strikeouts as the West Division-leading Giants won for the seventh time in their last 10 games.

Barry Bonds had three hits, including two doubles, and scored a run during San Francisco’s five-run sixth. He threw out Jay Payton at second with a strong throw from left field in the seventh.

Colorado’s Todd Helton doubled in the ninth, extending his hitting streak to 12 games. The Rockies lost their fifth consecutive road game to fall to 15-33 away from Coors Field, including 1-5 at Pacific Bell Park.

Brower (6-2) yielded three hits and walked one in his third start of the season, all this month, after 27 relief appearances to start the season.

The right-hander moved into the rotation when starter Damian Moss was sent to the bullpen for a short stint to work out some of his problems.

Brower remained a starter when Kirk Rueter strained his shoulder July 8 against St. Louis and went on the 15-day disabled list.

Jason Christiansen, Joe Nathan and Felix Rodriguez finished the five-hitter.

Brower retired 16 of the first 18 batters, striking out six through the first three innings. After yielding a single to Mark Bellhorn in the third, he got eight consecutive outs before Chris Stynes’ single in the sixth.

Helton then walked and Brower was visited on the mound by pitching coach Dave Righetti. Preston Wilson popped out to short to end the inning.

Feliz, making a rare start at third, connected on an 0-1 pitch from Darren Oliver (7-6) in the third inning for a 2-0 lead. Ray Durham hit a one-out double before Feliz’s shot to the left-field bleachers, his ninth homer of the season.

Regular third baseman Edgardo Alfonzo had three hits Thursday night, but Manager Felipe Alou opted to start Feliz because Alfonzo has only one hit in 17 at-bats against Oliver.