Senzatela keeps Rockies on postseason pace

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-plus 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 host San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park.

The Rockies (82-67) avoided being swept in the three-game series, then moved back into first place in the National League West when the Los Angeles Dodgers (82-68) lost Sunday night. Colorado holds a half-game edge in the division.

The St. Louis Cardinals (82-68), who beat Los Angeles 5-0, pulled even with Los Angeles in the race for the second National League wild card.

The Giants (70-80) 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 to end the inning.

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.