Bonds, Torrealba combine for winning runs

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Manager Felipe Alou believes the San Francisco Giants have accomplished the first step to getting back in the division race: evening their record at .500.

Barry Bonds hit a tying RBI double in the sixth then scored on Yorvit Torrealba's two-run double, and the Giants won their season-high eighth straight game, 5-3 over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday night.

Dustan Mohr hit a solo home run in the seventh for San Francisco to snap an 0-for-10 slump, helping the defending NL West champion Giants pull to .500 (24-24) for the first time since April 16. The Giants are on their longest winning streak since taking nine straight July 17-25 to open the 2003 season's second half.

"I don't like .500 -- I'd like to go .600," Alou said. "We're capable of doing that. We wanted to get to that point first. The way this division is shaping up, anybody who plays .500 has a shot."

Jerome Williams (4-3) pitched 7 1-3 strong innings for his first win since beating the Dodgers in Los Angeles on April 24, a span of six starts. He lost his previous two decisions, but worked ahead in the count and struck out eight in his first career appearance against the Rockies.

"I didn't know I didn't win for a month," the right-hander said. "I really don't care. I just want to help my team win."

Todd Helton singled twice and drove in a run and scored one in his first game back after missing seven straight starts with a strained stomach muscle, but the Rockies lost their seventh straight road game and eighth in a row in San Francisco. Colorado has now dropped all eight of its road series this season.

Matt Herges got four outs for his 15th save in 18 chances, his first outing since blowing a save in San Francisco's 5-4, 10-inning win over Arizona on Thursday night. Herges entered with the bases loaded in the eighth after Felix Rodriguez gave up a bases-loaded walk to pinch-hitter Mark Sweeney. Herges got Rene Reyes to pop out to shortstop.

Herges isn't content with being .500.

"It's not as important as the way we're playing," he said. "We didn't set .500 as a goal. We just want to play good baseball and keep going."

Bonds, who hit three home runs in his previous four games, doubled to the wall in right-center in the sixth to tie it 2-all. Pedro Feliz followed with a groundout and Jeffrey Hammonds struck out on a full-count before Jeff Fassero hit Damon Minor with a pitch -- the second straight night the 6-foot-7 first baseman got plunked.

Torrealba, starting at catcher for the second straight day, hit a 1-1 pitch deep to the corner in left to score Bonds and Minor.

The 39-year-old Bonds didn't walk once in the opener of this weekend series Friday night, when he hit the 10th walkoff homer of his career to win it 4-2 in the ninth. But Bonds was intentionally walked in the first with Neifi Perez on third and walked on four pitches in the seventh. He leads the majors with 65 walks, 34 intentional.

Bonds also isn't getting too excited about the team's recent roll.

"I got a philosophy when things are going good: Keep it quiet," he said.

Rockies manager Clint Hurdle opted not to walk him in the sixth with Edgardo Alfonzo aboard on a single.

"I'm not going to put guys on first and second with no outs. We have enough trouble walking people when we don't want to walk them," Hurdle said.

Fassero (0-4) made a spot start for the Rockies, his first since April 24 when he lost 8-5 to the Houston Astros and lasted only three innings.

The 41-year-old lefty is trying earn his way back into the rotation. He allowed baserunners in all but his 1-2-3 fifth inning. Fassero gave up three earned runs on six hits, struck out six and walked two in 5 2-3 innings.

After an 0-for-15 slump, Colorado's Jeromy Burnitz has driven in runs in three straight games, including his single up the middle in the second that gave the Rockies a 1-0 lead.

Torrealba tied it in the bottom half with an unearned run. He singled, stole second, then went to third on a wild throw into the outfield by catcher Todd Greene trying to catch Torrealba at second on the steal. He then scored on Fassero's second wild pitch of the game.

Game notes
Bonds has a five-game hitting streak. ... The latest item for sale at SBC Park: "Pitch to Barry" pins. ... The Giants grounded into their majors-worst 55th double play. ... Williams' eight strikeouts were one off his career high. ... Helton finished 2-for-4. "I haven't hit in a while, but I felt pretty comfortable," he said. "I just didn't let it go. I swung at bad pitches and my pitch recognition was off."