SAN FRANCISCO -- The way Tyler Chatwood has shined in his remarkable return from two Tommy John surgeries that sidelined him for most of the past two years has meant so much to the Colorado Rockies.They never could have envisioned his comeback going this well. Same goes for the right-hander himself.Chatwood struck out nine in eight innings and outdueled Jeff Samardzija as Colorado beat the San Francisco Giants 2-0 on Wednesday night, a day after surrendering 19 hits in a 12-3 defeat.Im very happy and proud of myself for what I was able to overcome, Chatwood said. Just to be able to finish on that note is awesome.Chatwood dazzled -- and that has been the norm for him away from Coors Field. A 12-game winner, he allowed three hits and walked two as the Rockies snapped an eight-game road losing streak.He is 8-1 with a majors-best 1.69 ERA in 13 road starts, and he is 3-1 with a 2.12 ERA in six career outings at AT&T Park. Chatwoods road ERA is the lowest in franchise history for pitchers with at least 80 innings.After allowing Conor Gillaspies leadoff single in the third, Chatwood (12-9) retired the next 11 batters in order before Brandon Belt drew a leadoff walk in the seventh.We couldnt imagine it going this well. This is obviously a best-case scenario and then some, manager Walt Weiss said. The time that he missed, youre hoping he just gets through the season healthy, and the fact of the matter is hes been very durable, very reliable and very good, so I think best-case scenario for Chatty. Its quite a comeback.In a game that began with a hovering mist above the field on a cool Bay Area night -- with first-pitch temperature 55 degrees -- Samardzija (12-11) struck out a season-high 11 in six-plus innings of his final regular season start. He allowed seven hits and two runs, walking one.San Francisco dropped to 1 1/2 games behind the Mets for the top wild card and remained a game up on St. Louis for the second spot after the Cardinals lost to Cincinnati.Pinch-hitter Kelby Tomlinson doubled leading off the ninth against Rockies closer Boone Logan, who then allowed Brandon Belts two-out infield single. Adam Ottavino retired Buster Posey on a groundout to third to end it for his sixth save.The Giants lone runner to reach second before the ninth was Angel Pagan on a wild pitch in the second. What a contrast from San Franciscos free-swinging performance Tuesday, when it produced 10 extra-base hits with three home runs, four triples and three doubles.Two different teams, manager Bruce Bochy said of his club from one night to the next. Chatwoods been tough on us. He was good tonight. We just couldnt figure him out. We had a runner on second base one time through eight innings. Thats going to work. We pitched well, we played well, this offense couldnt get it going, couldnt figure him out.Twice baserunners were caught stealing and the Giants grounded into a pair of double plays. They know they have serious work to do in order to keep alive a streak of World Series championships in even years this decade: 2010, 12 and 14.Samardzija has struck out nine or more Colorado batters in each of his past three starts against the Rockies. With runners on first and third and one out in the sixth, Samardzija induced an inning-ending double play by Nolan Arenado.He can put the ball on the ground with the best of them. He got two huge double plays. To shut that team down for eight innings, that was impressive, Weiss said.Arenado and Gerardo Parra each hit RBI singles for the Rockies.In Thursday nights series finale, San Francisco will try to win just its second home series since the All-Star break and fourth series overall in 22 over the second half.San Francisco was shut out for the 13th time, nine of those coming after the All-Star break.TRAINERS ROOMRockies: NL batting leader DJ LeMahieu, hitting .349, had the night off as Weiss went with Daniel Descalso. Weiss will pick his moments when to use LeMahieu over the final week.Giants: While INF Eduardo Nunez still hopes to return from a hamstring injury this weekend for the season-ending series against the NL West champion Dodgers, manager Bruce Bochy considers it questionable. Nunez has a mild right hamstring pull. ... RHP Johnny Cuetos strained left groin felt fine a day after his bullpen session and he is set to start Thursdays series finale.UP NEXTRockies: RHP Jon Gray (10-9, 4.45 ERA) has struck out 26 batters his past two starts, most in a two-game span in club history.Giants: Cueto (17-5, 2.79) is 2-0 with a 0.77 ERA in three starts against the Rockies this season. Cheap Cardinals Jerseys . -- Jaye Marie Green shot a 4-under 68 on Thursday to increase her lead to five strokes after the second round of the LPGA Tours qualifying tournament. Fake Cardinals Jerseys . Louis Blues. Shane Hnidy joins Brian Munz for the broadcast on TSN 1290 Radio at 7pm ct. https://www.cheapcardinalsonline.com/2464t-chris-carpenter-jersey-cardinals.html . Its the second straight game Bell has scored in extra time for Kelowna, which beat the Brandon Wheat Kings 6-5 on Friday, and he now has four game-winning goals on the season. Dexter Fowler Jersey . Belfort (24-10) needed just 77 seconds to down Henderson in the headlining bout of Saturdays "UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson" event at Goiania Arena in Goiania, Brazil. The fight served as a rematch of the pairs 2006 meeting, which Henderson won by decision. Matt Wieters Cardinals Jersey . On Saturday night, the normally free throw-challenged centre did just that. Howard scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including 13 of 19 free throws in a 2 1/2-minute stretch, and the Houston Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets 122-111.VANCOUVER -- Former Vancouver Canucks coach Alain Vigneault appears to have some interesting opportunities as he pursues a new job. Given his experience and success with the Canucks, Vigneault should get some consideration for the vacant Dallas Stars job. Dallas has a strong core of young, emerging talent, but missed the playoffs the past two seasons under former first-time NHL coach Glen Gulutzan. Vigneault guided the Canucks to a berth in the 2010-11 Stanley Cup finals, two Presidents trophies and six Northwest Division titles. But he got the axe after the Canucks were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for the second straight year. In addition to the Dallas job, he could get consideration for vacancies that have yet to occur, pending the conclusion of the post-season. Most of the opportunities appear to be with teams that toiled in the Eastern Conference this season prior to next seasons realignment. Four or five Eastern teams that missed the playoffs -- including Winnipeg, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Carolina, and Florida -- will likely be evaluating their coaching situations extensively. John Tortorella of the New York Rangers could also be on the hot seat because of the Rangers second-round struggles against Boston. Winnipeg could be a good fit for Vigneault, because he coached Vancouvers former top farm club for one season before moving up to the Canucks and knows the teams owners and management. Most teams who toiled in the Western Conference this season appear to be set. But with Phoenix coaach Dave Tippetts contract due to expire, an opportunity could emerge with the Coyotes.dddddddddddd Accordingly, Canucks general manager Mike Gillis has no shortage of possible candidates as he looks to find Vancouvers next coach. Gillis, who has come under heavy criticism since firing Vigneault on Wednesday, must decide whether he wants someone with experience or a fresh young face. Potential candidates mentioned publicly range from former Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff to ex-Calgary and New Jersey coach Brent Sutter to former Tampa Bay Lightning coach Guy Boucher. Scott Arniel, the coach of Vancouvers AHL farm club in Chicago in 2012-13, appears likely to get an interview based on his lengthy ties to the Canucks. He is in his second stint as the head coach of their top affiliate. He spent four seasons as head coach of the Manitoba Moose and served for two others as an assistant. But he had limited success in his lone NHL head-coaching assignment, lasting only a season and a half with the Columbus Blue Jackets between 2010-12. Less experienced possible candidates include AHL coaches Dallas Eakin of the Toronto Marlies coach and Willie Desjardins of the Texas Stars. Meanwhile, Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo, who was not traded as expected, expressed irony on Twitter on Thursday in that Vigneault left the club before him. "Since our 1st year when we arrived together, AV would always tell me that hed be gone before I would. I guess he was right. Very ironic....," Luongo tweeted. ' ' '