SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- With his aging outfield mates on the

disabled list, Marquis Grissom knew the Giants needed offense from

elsewhere.

He took care of that with one sensational swing.

Grissom hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth and San

Francisco survived for a 10-8 victory over the Colorado Rockies on

Friday night after blowing a six-run lead.

Grissom, the only healthy member of the starting outfield with

Barry Bonds and Moises Alou sidelined, connected on a 2-2 pitch

from Scott Dohmann that hit the left-field wall and bounced over

for his first homer of the year.

"It don't matter," he said with a smile when reminded how the

ball got over. "Skip off the wall, bounce off a head, I'll take it

any way I can get it."

Jason Christiansen (1-0) pitched a perfect ninth for the

victory, spoiling a remarkable rally by the Rockies.

After Brian Fuentes (0-1) walked Pedro Feliz on five pitches to

lead off the ninth and allowed a hit-and-run single to Edgardo

Alfonzo, Dohmann entered to face Grissom.

Todd Greene hit a three-run homer highlighting Colorado's

eight-run rally in the seventh inning that erased a six-run

deficit. Greene ruined a strong season debut by Giants left-hander

Noah Lowry, who pitched six shutout innings before running into

trouble.

"Fuentes gets the ball and it was bad timing there not being

able to throw strikes," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "We

didn't do a thing with Lowry. He controlled our bat speed all night

long."

Lowry retired nine straight during one stretch, allowed two runs

on four hits, struck out two and walked three. He gave way to Jim

Brower after putting two runners on in the seventh.

Pinch-hitter Brad Hawpe greeted Brower with a run-scoring double

to start the comeback for Colorado, which had won four of its last

six in San Francisco's ballpark by the bay. Matt Holliday added a

two-run single and pinch-hitter Aaron Miles and Todd Helton each

drove in a run in the largest inning in Rockies history on the

road.

San Francisco's Omar Vizquel hit a two-out RBI single in the

eighth, but Ryan Speier struck out Lance Niekro swinging on full

count with two runners on to end the threat.

Jason Ellison and Alfonzo homered for the Giants, who barely

held on after staking Lowry to a big lead. Alfonzo also had a

first-inning sacrifice fly.

The 40-year-old Bonds and 38-year-old Alou are two of San

Francisco's biggest hitters, but the Giants found other ways to

score after struggling at the plate in dropping two of three to

rival Los Angeles to start the year. Alou went on the DL earlier in

the day with a right calf strain and Bonds is sidelined as he

recovers from two operations on his right knee, his quest for the

career home run record on hold.

"I think our experience kicked in there," said Grissom, who's

37. "We're not going to panic when we fall behind."

Lowry, a 24-year-old former first-round draft pick, went 6-0 as

a rookie after being called up for the fourth time Aug. 3, and even

pitched with strep throat a day after his temperature reached 101

degrees. The only Giants pitcher to open his career with more wins

without a loss is Hooks Wiltse, who went 12-0 for the 1904 New York

Giants.

"The streak goes on," said Lowry, disgusted with how he

started the seventh. "I'm not disappointed at all. That was an

unbelievable game."

It was 53 degrees at first pitch with swirling winds that are

typically associated more with Candlestick Park than the team's new

stadium, and a tarp covered the infield until just before game time

because of intermittent rain showers.

"That's about the last thing you think would happen on a night

like this and in this ballpark with all those runs scored," Giants

manager Felipe Alou said. "It was very cold and windy, yet both

teams scored a lot of runs."

Colorado starter Jeff Francis allowed six runs and eight hits in

four-plus innings and got his first major league hit with a

third-inning single.

Hurdle had flu-like symptoms before the game but was in the

dugout by first pitch.Game notes
Giants ace Jason Schmidt rejoined the team after missing

Thursday's game with the flu. He took an IV on Friday to replace

lost fluids. He plans to pitch Sunday on his regular day and did

some light throwing in the outfield. "I'm going to pitch no matter

what," he said. ... Injured Colorado closer Chin-hui Tsao, on the

DL nursing right shoulder inflammation, pitched one inning and

allowed one hit as he began his rehab assignment at Triple-A

Colorado Springs against Las Vegas. He will throw again Sunday and

could rejoin the team Monday. ... Alfonzo surpassed 700 RBI for

his career and now has 701. ... Niekro, recalled from Triple-A

Fresno to take Alou's roster spot, had a hit and scored a run after

arriving at the stadium about an hour before first pitch. ... After

the game, the Rockies optioned RHP Allan Simpson to Triple-A

Colorado Springs to make room for LHP Bobby Seay, acquired earlier

from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.