http://0rz.tw/9eLID Giants keep playoff hopes alive with win San Francisco now five back in Wild Card race By Nick Kosmider / MLB.com | 9/17/2011 12:32 AM ET DENVER -- The Giants won't let go of the thread. That's the grip manager Bruce Bochy said his team is clinging to as it makes a desperate push for a playoff spot, and San Francisco remains alive after a 9-1 win over the Rockies -- the Giants' sixth straight -- on Friday in front of 47,302 at Coors Field. Brandon Belt, Cody Ross and Chris Stewart homered and Madison Bumgarner backed his own gem with a two-run double, as he earned his first career win against the Rockies in his sixth start against them. The Giants moved to within five games of the Braves -- who lost to the Mets, 12-2, on Friday -- in the National League Wild Card race. With the win, San Francisco trails the D-backs -- who lost to the Padres, 2-0, on Friday -- by six games in the National League West. "We know it's a long shot," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "We know we're hanging by a thread, but we're still alive, and that's how you have to feel." Bumgarner was dominant throughout, surrendering just one unearned run over seven innings. He gave up six hits, only one for extra bases, while striking out three against one walk. The Rockies' only run came in the fifth when third baseman Pablo Sandoval couldn't handle a Dexter Fowler grounder, allowing Wilin Rosario (walk) to cross home plate. Bumgarner (12-12) reached the .500 mark with the victory, and it was the fifth straight start in which he allowed two runs or fewer. "The biggest thing is just going out there and keeping us in the game, pitching a good game," Bumgarner said. "But I'm glad to get back to [.500]. ... The biggest thing for me is just wanting to go out there and go deep in the game." The Giants' suddenly surging offense had its way with Rockies rookie starter Alex White, who surrendered six runs over 5 2/3 innings. Belt followed Aubrey Huff's fourth-inning single with a two-run shot to right-center, his seventh of the season and second in as many games. White, who has surrendered 11 home runs in five starts with the Rockies this season, lamented his inability to keep Colorado in the game. "I guess the good thing is we're out of it as a team, because if we weren't, I wouldn't be pitching," White said. "Just getting the innings, getting the work in, trying to get this stuff out of the way before next year, I hope." Ross hit a one-out, opposite-field solo shot in the fifth -- the 100th of his career -- and added an RBI single in the sixth that scored Bumgarner, who connected on a White fastball earlier in the inning for a two-run double. "I have to give [Orlando] Cabrera credit," Bumgarner said of his results at the plate, which included a single in the seventh. "He was over there telling me what kind of approach I should have whenever I get out there. It's probably more luck than anything, but he put the right idea in my head." Ross -- who was able to retrieve his milestone home run ball -- was removed from the game following his single in the sixth with a right hamstring strain, an injury Bochy said will likely keep the center fielder out for a week. Ross said he is determined to return to action before the Giants' season is over. "I'm going to come back as fast as I can," Ross said. "I'm going to do anything I can to speed it up, as far as icing it every hour or whatever. Definitely, the goal is to get back as fast as they say I'm able to." Stewart followed Brandon Crawford's RBI single in the seventh with a two-run homer, his second of the season, to left off of Aaron Cook, who was making his first relief appearance since Sept. 27, 2003. The Giants' victory also included left-hander Barry Zito's first appearance since July 31. He struck out one and allowed a hit in a scoreless ninth inning. "I thought he had good stuff," Bochy said. "He used all his pitches, and for not being out there for a while, and relieving, I thought, overall, he threw well." The Giants, meanwhile, are playing well enough to keep hope alive, even if it is just a thread. "We've got to win every game and hope [other teams] don't to have a chance here," Bumgarner said. "Everybody's playing relaxed right now. You've got a good vibe in the dugout. A lot of pressure that was on everybody seems to be gone." Nick Kosmider is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. --

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