SAN FRANCISCO -- The San Francisco Giants sent general manager Bobby Evans to Japan this week to scout right-hander Shohei Otani, a potential 2018 Major League Baseball import.

As it turns out, the Giants might not be as desperate for starting pitching next season as it appeared when Evans got his passport stamped.

Previously struggling left-hander Matt Moore blanked the Colorado Rockies on six hits over six-plus innings Wednesday afternoon, leading San Francisco to a 4-0 victory over the National League playoff contender.

Joe Panik stroked a single, double and triple, Pablo Sandoval laced a pair of doubles and Brandon Crawford added a solo home run for the Giants (60-93), who completed a two-game sweep that gave them five straight home wins over the Rockies.

"It's been a tough year. We're not where we want to be," said Giants manager Bruce Bochy, whose club resides in last place in the NL West. "We don't want to be in the role of a spoiler. But the guys have stepped up. They're doing it because of the character in the clubhouse."

Colorado (82-70) still leads the Milwaukee Brewers (81-71) by one game in the race for the NL's second wild card. The Arizona Diamondbacks (88-65) hold a 5 1/2-game edge on the Rockies for the first wild card.

The defeat was the Rockies' third straight, all against non-contenders.

"This is what we want, to be in this situation," Colorado manager Bud Black said of the pressure of a playoff race. "Are we enjoying the fact that we got beat? No. But we enjoy being in this situation."

Moore, who entered the game with the second-highest ERA in the majors, cruised to just his second career win over the Rockies.

"With that team having a lot to play for right now, and for us to pick up these last two, it feels good," Moore said. "We don't have much (we're) playing for this time of year. For us to go out there and compete and not take no for an answer, I think it says a lot."

Staked to early 1-0 and 3-0 leads, Moore allowed only two baserunners to reach scoring position until giving up back-to-back singles to Mark Reynolds and Jonathan Lucroy leading off the seventh.

With the potential tying run coming to the plate in pinch-hitter Pat Valaika, Bochy pulled Moore and went with left-hander Steven Okert.

Okert struck out Valaika and got Charlie Blackmon on a ground ball before giving way to right-hander Cory Gearrin, who fanned DJ LeMahieu with runners at first and third to retain the 3-0 advantage.

"It's really encouraging," Bochy said of the recent work of his bullpen. "I put Okert in a tough situation (facing the right-handed-hitting Valaika). He gets a big strikeout, and gets a ground ball. And Cory (Gearrin) makes good pitches.

"That could have turned the game around right there. But those guys did a great job."

The Giants added a fourth run against the Colorado bullpen in the last of the seventh. Panik singled home Hunter Pence, who had walked and advanced on Mike Dunn's wild pitch.

Moore (6-14) successfully avoided becoming the NL's first 15-game loser. He walked two and struck out six.

Four Giants relievers combined for three innings of hitless ball to complete the club's fourth shutout of the season.

Panik scored the Giants' first two runs off Rockies starter Tyler Chatwood. He tripled and jogged home on a Denard Span sacrifice fly in the first, then doubled and scored on a Buster Posey sacrifice fly in the third.

Crawford's homer came after Posey's fly ball had cleared the bases with two outs in the third. It was his 14th of the season and raised his RBI total to a team-best 72.

Chatwood (8-13) allowed three runs and five hits in six innings. He walked two and struck out four.

"A lot of times that's good enough to win," Black said of Chatwood's performance. "But against a guy who's pitching well, you have to match him."

Chatwood lost to San Francisco for the first time in his last eight starts.

Five of the Giants' seven hits in the game went for extra bases. They out-hit the Rockies 7-6.

Lucroy had three of Colorado's six hits, all singles.

Despite the two-game sweep, the Rockies still won the season series against San Francisco 12-7.

NOTES: The Giants' three-game winning streak is their longest since a six-gamer that bridged June and July. ... Giants 2B Joe Panik's three hits gave him 34 against the Rockies this season, the most ever in a single season by a Colorado opponent. The Giants' record for most hits in a season against one opponent was set by CF Willie Mays with 43 against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1958. ... San Francisco claimed RHP Pierce Johnson off waivers from the Chicago Cubs. To make room for the 26-year-old, a former first-round draft pick, on their 40-man roster, the Giants transferred 1B Brandon Belt (concussion) to the 60-day disabled list. ... The Rockies announced Wednesday that the installation of a new scoreboard at Coors Field will take place this winter. It is expected to be up and running by next season's opener.