By JANIE McCAULEY
AP Sports Writer

SAN FRANCISCO(AP) -- Barry Zito is pitching a lot like his old
self and the San Francisco Giants are finally backing him with
plenty of runs.

And they're right back in the playoff chase.

Zito struck out a season-high nine in his biggest win yet as a
Giant, Juan Uribe drove in three runs and San Francisco shaved
another game off Colorado's hold on the NL wild card with a 10-2
victory over the Rockies on Tuesday night.

"We're just clicking right now," manager Bruce Bochy said.
"Hopefully this is something we can continue and keep the
momentum going. ... We still have some ground to make up."

San Francisco won its third straight after a four-game skid and
pulled within 2 1/2 games of the wild-card leading Rockies, who
dropped their fourth straight following an eight-game winning
streak.

Zito, the 2002 AL Cy Young Award winner, is finally performing
more like the standout pitcher San Francisco awarded with a $126
million, seven-year contract before the 2007 season. The Giants
swept the Rockies from Aug. 28-30 to move even in the wild card,
and could really benefit by doing so again this time. All-Star
Matt Cain takes the mound in the series finale Wednesday night
for the Giants.

Randy Johnson is back, too, though the 303-game winner will work
out of the bullpen following a two-month shoulder injury.

"It's black and white," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. "There
is no middle ground. We have the opportunity to win a game in
this series and move ahead with a 3 1/2-game lead, or we'll have
a 1 1/2-game lead. That is what is up for grabs. It's a big
cushion versus giving it back is what is on the table tomorrow.
It doesn't come easy."

In San Francisco's three straight wins, the Giants have
outscored the Dodgers and Rockies 26-5 after being outscored
19-4 in the previous two with first-place Los Angeles. Travis
Ishikawa singled in a run and added a sacrifice fly.

Troy Tulowitzki hit a solo home run in the sixth and Carlos
Gonzalez singled in the Rockies' first run in the third, but
Colorado did little else against Zito (10-12). Fans chanted
"Barry! Barry!" for his second straight impressive home outing
against Colorado.

The left-hander allowed five hits and two runs in seven
efficient innings, walking only one in a 93-pitch effort.

He also aided in a big double play to end the seventh. He
fielded a comebacker by leadoff man Eric Young, threw to Uribe
at second and then fired to first to get Young. The ball hit
Zito on the forearm and he clenched his teeth in pain and let
out a big sigh as he walked off the mound as the crowd roared.
X-rays afterward were negative.

"I definitely think it's one of the better ones I've had as a
Giants. It's nice to go out there and have success," Zito said.
"Our backs have been against the wall. This team, for not having
much experience in playoff races, has been fighting and having
fun."

The Giants jumped on Colorado starter Ubaldo Jimenez (13-11)
right away and he was done after 2 2-3 innings, ending his
stretch of 25 straight starts going six innings or more.

San Francisco loaded the bases in the first with no outs as
Jimenez walked Eugenio Velez, gave up Freddy Sanchez's single
then issued another free pass to Randy Winn. After Pablo
Sandoval struck out, the Giants took the lead when Bengie Molina
drove in a run on third baseman Garrett Atkins' fielding error.

Jimenez needed 38 pitches to get through the inning.

Zito plunked Gonzalez with a fastball on the right hand on his
sixth pitch of the game. Gonzalez grabbed his hand and rolled to
the ground. Tracy raced out and Gonzalez eventually took first
base.

Jimenez hasn't allowed a home run in 51 consecutive outings
dating to June 11, 2008, the longest such streak in franchise
history.

Yorvit Torrealba had his 10-game hitting streak against the
Giants snapped.

NOTES: The Rockies need two more wins away from Coors Field to
match their highest total for road wins in club history: 39-42
in 2007. ... The Giants activated Johnson after he'd been on the
60-day DL since early July with a shoulder injury. He came out
fine from his simulated game Monday. He will pitch out of the
bullpen. San Francisco placed RHP reliever Justin Miller on the
60-day DL with inflammation in his right elbow, ending his
season. Miller went 3-3 with a 3.18 ERA in 44 outings. "It's
tough. It's disappointing," he said. "I'll root these guys on.
For me, it was the last thing I wanted to hear." ... San
Francisco SS Edgar Renteria had an MRI on his left shoulder that
showed a mild strain. He is nursing biceps tendinitis in his
left arm and a sore right shoulder. Bochy expects him to start
Wednesday.