Lincecum, Burrell lead NL West-leading Giants to 2-1 win over struggling Rockies

Lincecum leads Giants to 2-1 win over Rockies

DENVER — Tim Lincecum threw eight stellar innings, Pat Burrell hit a two-run homer and the San Francisco Giants retained their slim lead in the NL West with a 2-1 win over the faltering Colorado Rockies on Friday night.

The Giants entered the day with a half-game lead over San Diego, which hosted Cincinnati later Friday.

The struggling Rockies dropped their fifth straight game and fell 4½ games behind the Giants with nine games remaining.

Lincecum (15-10), the reigning two-time NL CY Young winner, retired the first 15 batters. He allowed two hits, the first a bloop double to Seth Smith in the sixth that just hit inside the chalk in shallow left.

Eric Young Jr. followed with a two-out RBI single to right, the only run the Rockies would manage off Lincecum.