Leyland doesn't look back in final game

— -- DENVER -- Arguing with umpires and making late-game lineup moves, Jim Leyland managed until the very end. The Colorado Rockies rewarded Leyland with a ninth-inning comeback Sunday, giving him a 9-8 victory over the San Francisco Giants in his final game as manager. Leyland is walking away with two years left on his contract.

"It was one of those games where you're still managing hard," a composed Leyland said. "You're trying to win it. I wanted that game real bad. I'm not going to lie about it." The victory left the Rockies with a 72-90 record in their only season under Leyland, who plans to go home to Pittsburgh before deciding whether to remain with Colorado in another capacity. Leyland, who won a World Series title with the Florida Marlins in 1997, is 1,067-1,127 in 14 years with Pittsburgh, Florida and Colorado. "It's tough, but I'm a big boy and I enjoyed it, and it was a great way to go out," Leyland said. The Giants looked like they would spoil Leyland's farewell at Coors Field, taking leads of 2-0, 5-2, 7-4 and 8-7, but the Rockies came back each time, winning the game on Dante Bichette's RBI single and Edgard Clemente's sacrifice fly in the ninth. Bichette gave a Tiger Woods-like fist pump after his run-scoring hit, and Todd Helton was mobbed near home plate after he beat Armando Rios' strong throw from right field. Leyland was in the middle of the pack and got several hugs and pats on the back from players and coaches. "We won this one for Jim," Bichette said. "I know it has been a disappointing year, but he's had a great career. We wanted to send him out with a win." Leyland was active throughout the game, pacing in the dugout and jogging out to dispute calls by second-base umpire Hunter Wendelstedt in the fifth and first-base umpire Steve Rippley in the sixth. The argument with Wendelstedt was animated, but Leyland went back to the dugout almost immediately after hearing Rippley's explanation. "You're doing everything you can to win every game, and this was no different," Leyland said. Before the game, Leyland smiled and shook hands with Giants manager Dusty Baker and all four umpires. "He just said, 'Good luck, man. I'll miss ya,' " Baker said. "I'll see him down the road. I'm sad for us to lose this game, but you've got to be happy for him to win his last game, so it's a double-edged sword of emotion." Leyland, 54, told his players in September that he would not return for the final two years of a three-year, $6 million contract. He said he no longer had the passion for the daily rigors of the job and wanted to spend more time with his family. "I have absolutely no second thoughts whatsoever," Leyland said. "I'm very comfortable with my decision. I know that in the near future, they're going to have their third manager here, and I want to wish them the best in their selection process. I hope they get the right guy." The Rockies hired Leyland last winter, thinking he would be able to turn around a team that finished 77-85 in 1998, but Colorado actually got worse, finishing in last place for the first time in its seven-year history. "I'm a little embarrassed at the type of year we had," Leyland said. "I don't really apologize to anybody but the fans. I gave it my best. It just wasn't good enough, but I do apologize to the fans because they were loyal and they stayed with us throughout the whole time." Former Detroit manager Buddy Bell reportedly is the front-runner to replace Leyland. Other candidates include former New York Yankees second baseman Willie Randolph and Cleveland hitting coach Charlie Manuel.