Cain good enough for first win

SAN FRANCISCO -- One of the Giants' top two pitchers finally won a game.

On a day that winless Barry Zito was demoted to the bullpen, Matt Cain beat the Rockies, 4-0, on Monday night at AT&T Park, securing his first victory of the season.

Cain was not sharp, but he managed to maneuver out of trouble without the Rockies scoring.

Cain did not pitch a 1-2-3 inning. He gave up four hits and he walked five in 5« innings.

He got some help from his defense. Catcher Bengie Molina picked Matt Holliday off first in the third inning. In the fourth, the Rockies had runners at first and second with one out. The runners took off on the pitch and Jeff Baker lined into a double play.

Cain was lifted after giving up a double and a walk in the sixth. Relievers Vinnie Chulk, Tyler Walker and Brian Wilson collaborated on the final 11 outs to secure the victory.

Offensively, the Giants made the most of a relatively meager attack.

They scored two in the first inning on an infield hit, a bloop single and a line drive single. In the fifth, the Giants scored two insurance runs on five walks, three by starter Franklin Morales and two by reliever Kip Wells.

Dan Ortmeier, making his first start since April 15, had two doubles.

BRIEFLY

Omar Vizquel could begin playing games in extended spring training by the end of the week, and could be playing at Triple-A Fresno next week, manager Bruce Bochy said.

Vizquel has been rehabbing from knee surgery. The expected rehab time was four to six weeks, but Vizquel has been out almost two months.

Fred Lewis was out of the starting lineup for the first time in two weeks. Bochy said Lewis needed a day off to rest a sore hamstring. Lewis is leading National League leadoff hitters with a .379 average out of the No. 1 spot.

Noah Lowry will have further tests on his surgically repaired left forearm today. Lowry has not thrown since April 20, and he has still not been on a mound since his surgery in early March.

The Giants stole two bases. They have 30 so far, their most in April since moving to San Francisco.

The game was delayed for several minutes in the seventh inning because of a power outage in the neighborhood. Power was never lost at the ballpark, but the lights dimmed when the emergency lighting went on. Umpires caucused before allowing the game to continue under weaker lights.

Contact Staff Writer Jeff Fletcher at 521-5489 or jeff.fletcher@pressdemocrat.com.