SAN FRANCISCO — Giants manager Bruce Bochy was a little nervous about his ace pitcher. Tim Lincecum put him at ease.

Lincecum pitched seven strong innings in his return from a balky back, Eugenio Velez drove in four runs and the San Francisco Giants gained ground in the NL wild-card race with a 9-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies last night.

"We kept checking up on him," Bochy said. "I was a little anxious to see him out there. After the first inning I could tell he was fine."

Bengie Molina homered and scored three runs and Aaron Rowand drove in two for the Giants, who closed to 3 1/2 games of Colorado for the wild card. Juan Uribe and Fred Lewis also drove in runs for San Francisco.

Lincecum, who missed his previous turn with back spasms, threw 116 pitches and had only one clean inning.

"It was fun to win a game like that," Lincecum said. "I was erratic at times but I was able to come back and make quality pitches."

Lincecum (14-5) gave up a run and six hits, walked four and struck out 11 for a league-best 244.

CUBS 2, BREWERS 0:

Ryan Dempster pitched eight sharp innings and Derrek Lee homered for the seventh time in 10 games for host Chicago. Dempster (10-8) allowed four hits, walked one and struck out four to join John Smoltz as the only pitchers to follow three 20-save seasons with two 10-win seasons as a starter.

REDS 3, ASTROS 1:

Pinch-hitter Jay Bruce had a go-ahead single in his return from the disabled list and Brandon Phillips homered to help host Cincinnati beat Houston. Playing his first game in more than two months, Bruce bounced a two-run single through the right side to give Cincinnati a 2-1 lead in the seventh inning.

DIAMONDBACKS 4, PADRES 2:

Brandon Allen singled in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning for host Arizona. Gerardo Parma reached in the 10th with a one-out infield single off Adam Russell (2-1). Ryan Roberts then singled with pinch-runner Trent Oeltjen taking third. Allen followed with a line drive to right-center.

CARDINALS 11, MARLINS 6:

Matt Holliday drove in three runs to top 100 RBIs for the third time in his career for host St. Louis. Holliday and Ryan Ludwick had two-run singles off Ricky Nolasco (11-9) in a four-run first. Holliday added an RBI double in a four-run eighth. Holliday has 102 RBIs.

DODGERS 6, PIRATES 2:

Andre Ethier hit a tiebreaking homer and Manny Ramirez had an early RBI double for host Los Angeles. Orlando Hudson had three hits and drove in two late runs for the Dodgers.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

YANKEES 5, ANGELS 3:

Mark Teixeira hit a two-run triple, then doubled to start the go-ahead rally in the eighth inning for host New York. New York broke a 3-all tie when pinch-runner Brett Gardner took third as part of a double steal and came home as catcher Mike Napoli bounced the throw past third baseman Chone Figgins for an error.

TIGERS 6, BLUE JAYS 5:

Marco Scutaro's second error of the game allowed Brandon Inge to score from second base in the bottom of the 10th inning for host Detroit. Brian Wolfe (1-2) walked Inge and Curtis Granderson with one out in the 10th. Alex Avila then hit a grounder to first baseman Lyle Overbay. Scutaro couldn't handle his throw to second and Inge was able to score.

ATHLETICS 9, RANGERS 0:

Brett Tomko pitched a five-hitter for his 100th major league win as visiting Oakland beat Texas. Tomko (5-3) struck out three and didn't walk a batter in his second career shutout.

TWINS 6, INDIANS 3:

Michael Cuddyer hit a two-run homer in host Minnesota's six-run eighth inning against Cleveland. The Twins went ahead 4-3 when Delmon Young scored on a wild pitch by Chris Perez. Cuddyer's homer went to right.

RAYS 8, ORIOLES 4:

Tampa ended its 11-game losing streak, using a 15-hit attack and effective pitching from David Price to beat host Baltimore. Price (8-7) allowed four runs in seven innings.