Lately, Grilli has given a few lessons to the Giants, the team that selected him fourth overall in the 1997 draft.

On a night when the Rockies knocked around Cy Young hopeful Tim Lincecum for the first time, it was Grilli who came out of the bullpen to pitch three shutout innings and get credit for the 6-5, 12-inning victory. It was the second three-inning effort for Grilli in seven days against the Giants, whom he shut out for the final three innings and his first big-league save in a 7-2 victory at AT&T Park.

The coincidence is the Rockies starting pitcher who couldn't make good on the 5-0 lead was veteran Livan Hernandez, whom the Giants acquired back in 1999 from Florida for a package of players that included prospect Grilli.

Grilli has gotten a good indoctrination to the business world of baseball since those days with the Giants. The Marlins, after all, let him go to the White Sox in a winter draft, and then the White Sox let him go so he signed with Detroit. The Tigers finally dealt him to the Rockies for minor league pitcher Zach Simons on April 30. He pitched OK early but has gotten better as the season moved along.

And right now, manager Clint Hurdle said, "He's pitching the best ball he has all season."

The highlights have been the two lengthy appearances against the Giants, especially the way Grilli escaped a jam in the 10th inning Tuesday. With one out and two on, he struck out Rich Aurilia and Emmanuel Burriss. He has given up only two hits and a walk while striking out seven in the six innings of the two appearances.

"You never know, I could wind up back there someday," Grilli said. "I've worn the hat of five organizations already, and they liked me once. But I'm hoping I can stay here. I'd like to feel I fit with what (the Rockies) want to do."

ROCKIES 6, GIANTS 5 (12 innings): Ryan Spilborghs, who returned from the disabled list Monday after missing 47 games, came off the bench to deliver the game-winning single off Giants closer Brian Wilson with one out in the bottom of the 12th. Troy Tulowitzki had capped a five-run fourth inning against Tim Lincecum with a two-run home run. Matt Holliday, Brad Hawpe and Chris Iannetta also had consecutive run-scoring hits off Lincecum, who had never allowed more than three runs in six previous starts against the Rockies.