Senzatela keeps Rockies on postseason pace

Antonio Senzatela helped the Colorado Rockies out on the mound and at the plate Sunday afternoon.

Antonio Senzatela helped the Colorado Rockies out on the mound and at the plate Sunday afternoon.

The right-hander earned the win by tossing five solid innings and gave the Rockies a lead they never relinquished with a two-run single in the second inning of a 3-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park.

The Rockies (82-67) avoided being swept in the three-game and ensured they would end the day in the postseason position.

Colorado entered Sunday a half-game ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals in the race for the second National League wild card and a half-game behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. The Dodgers and Cardinals played each other later Sunday.

The Giants (70-79) fell to 2-12 in September.

Senzatela (5-6) allowed one run on five hits and two walks while striking out five in earning his first win since July 28.

His single in the second inning -- Senzatela's first hit since April 27 -- scored Carlos Gonzalez and Ian Desmond. Two batters later, DJ LeMahieu lofted a sacrifice fly to score what proved to be the decisive run.

Senzatela carried a shutout into the sixth before being lifted following a leadoff single by Joe Panik and a walk to Evan Longoria. Later in the inning, Scott Oberg, the third Rockies pitcher of the frame, allowed a two-out RBI single to rookie Chris Shaw.

The Giants pulled within a run in the eighth when rookie Austin Slater laced a two-out RBI single against Adam Ottavino, but Ottavino retired Shaw on a fly out to left.

Wade Davis struck out two in a perfect ninth for his NL-leading 40th save.

Desmond had two of the Rockies' seven hits, while Panik and Shaw had two hits apiece for the Giants, who also finished with seven.

Dereck Rodriguez (6-4) took the loss after allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks while striking out five over six innings.