Tim Lincecum outdueled Ubaldo Jimenez and Darren Ford scored the winning run in his major-league debut as the San Francisco Giants posted a 2-1 victory over the visiting Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night.

Lincecum (12-9) pitched eight standout innings to end a career-worst five-game losing skid and win for the first time since July 30. Lincecum struck out nine and gave up just one run and five hits.

Brian Wilson pitched the ninth for his 38th save in 42 chances as the Giants moved within three games of the first-place San Diego Padres in the NL West.

Mike Fontenot drew a leadoff walk against Jimenez in the eighth and Ford entered as a pinch-runner. Ford moved to second base on Lincecum’s sacrifice bunt and headed toward third when Jimenez bounced a wild pitch. The throw to third by catcher Miguel Olivo was wild and Ford came around to score the go-ahead run.

Jimenez (17-6) suffered his fourth consecutive loss despite giving up just two runs and four hits while also striking out 10.

Carlos Gonzalez had three of Colorado’s five hits and led off the fourth inning with a homer against Lincecum. The blast was Gonzalez’s 30th homer of the season.

San Francisco tied the score in the fifth when Fontenot singled home Guillen.