Arenado's stunning grab helps Rockies top Giants

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[April 15, 2015]  SAN FRANCISCO -- The Colorado Rockies silenced the San Francisco Giants bats for the second game in a row Tuesday night, getting a combined six-hitter from six pitchers in a 4-1 victory.

One day after five Rockies teamed to ruin San Francisco's home opener in a 2-0 Colorado win, right-hander Christian Bergman teamed up with his club's deep bullpen to extend the Giants' scoreless streak at home to 16 innings before surrendering a run in the eighth.

The win was Colorado's fifth in a row on the road, the first time a streak of that length has occurred to open a season in Rockies history. It also improved Colorado's record to 6-2, which equals the best in the National League.

The loss, meanwhile, was the Giants' fifth in a row. They fell to 3-6.

Left fielder Corey Dickerson had three hits, scored three runs and drove in one for the Rockies, who out-hit the Giants 9-6. Second baseman DJ LeMahieu extended his season-opening hitting streak to eight games and also drove in a run with a squeeze bunt.



Right-hander Scott Oberg (1-0), making his major league debut, was credited with the win after pitching a scoreless fifth inning in relief of Bergman. Right-hander LaTroy Hawkins, lefty Christian Friedrich and righties Rafael Betancourt and Adam Ottavino each followed Oberg with an inning apiece.

The San Francisco run came against Betancourt, who benefitted from an incredible catch by third baseman Nolan Arenado that helped short-circuit the Giants rally.

After center fielder Angel Pagan's third hit of the game and a walk, the Giants had two on and none out before Arenado, a two-time Gold Glove winner, raced with his back to the plate and caught a foul pop fly by Giants right fielder Gregor Blanco as he sprawled over the tarp and into the first row of seats down the left-field line.

Pagan cleverly tagged up and advanced to third base, from where he scored the Giants' first run of the season and get San Francisco within 3-1 on third baseman Matt Duffy's sacrifice fly to right field.

The Giants threatened to tie the game one batter later, but pinch-hitter Buster Posey's blast to center field was hauled in at the fence by the Rockies' Charlie Blackmon.

Colorado added an insurance run in the ninth after Dickerson greeted Giants right-hander Santiago Casilla with a triple. He scored on pinch-hitter Wilin Rosario's infield out.

Ottavino notched his first save of the season with a scoreless ninth for the Rockies, who won seven of their last 11 games in San Francisco.

Giants right-hander Tim Hudson (0-1) took the loss. He was touched for eight hits and three runs in seven innings. He struck out four and did not walk a batter.

Left fielder Nori Aoki had a single and drew two walks for the Giants. The fifth-inning hit extended his hitting streak to 17 games dating back to last September.

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Making his first start of the season, Bergman was pulled after two trips through the Giants lineup. He managed to shut out the defending champs for four innings despite allowing four hits and two walks. He struck out four.

The Rockies gave Bergman almost an immediate two-run cushion. Dickerson had a hand in the runs, using both his bat and his speed.

After Arenado led off the second inning with a double, Dickerson grounded a single to center field. Arenado scored on the play, and when Pagan's throw came toward the plate, Dickerson took off for second and slid in safely.

Dickerson scored from there without the benefit of a hit. He alertly took third on a grounder to Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford, then scampered home when Hudson's high fastball eluded catcher Hector Sanchez for a wild pitch.

Dickerson's second hit, another single, helped produce the Rockies' third run two innings later. He scored on LeMahieu's squeeze bunt after having advanced to third on a single by catcher Nick Hundley.
 


NOTES: Giants LHP Madison Bumgarner and C Buster Posey received their 2014 Silver Slugger awards before the game. Lost in the wake of Bumgarner's brilliant postseason on the mound was the fact he hit four home runs -- including two grand slams -- during the regular season to earn National League hitting honors among pitchers. ... Giants manager Bruce Bochy announced before the game that Posey would be given two days off from catching. He did not start Tuesday despite an .800 (4-for-5) career batting average against Rockies RHP Christian Bergman. Bochy said Posey would start at first base in the series finale Wednesday. ... Giants RF Hunter Pence did some running and throwing drills on the field before the game, then left to get an X-ray on his broken left arm. ... Rockies LHP Jorge De La Rosa (strained left groin) was scheduled to make a second injury-rehab start for Triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday night. The Rockies hope to have their ace left-hander back atop their starting rotation next week.

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