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 The Rockies tagged the Giants' bullpen for four runs in the
eighth inning Sunday, shocking San Francisco for the third day in a
row.
The 8-7 decision Sunday was Colorado's fifth win in a row, while the
Giants were swept for the first time this year.
"I've said it since spring, this club is different," Rockies manager
Walt Weiss said. "The mentality of this club is different. We've
been tested a lot early on with injuries ... but these guys don't
care. They just show up and compete."
They competed all weekend, coming from behind in all three games.
"It stinks for us. We should've won a lot of these games we lost of
this homestand. We're just going through a tough stretch right now,"
Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner said. "Not to take anything
away from the Rockies. They've got one of the best offenses in the
league, even with the guys they've got down."
Bumgarner did his share to help his team win. He pitched seven
innings, struck out nine, threw out a runner at third, and even hit
a solo home run in the fifth. He walked four and gave up six hits.
The Giants led 7-4 when Bumgarner exited, but the bullpen couldn't
protect the lead.
Colorado scored four times in the eighth off right-hander Juan
Gutierrez (1-2) and lefty Javier Lopez to move in front. The
decisive blow was pinch hitter Justin Morneau's double to left field
off Lopez that scored the tying and go-ahead runs. Morneau was the
first batter Lopez faced.
Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (3-for-4) opened the inning with a
single off Gutierrez. With one out, Drew Stubbs tripled home
Tulowitzki with a shot high off the wall in right. The Colorado
center fielder scored on catcher Michael McKenry's infield hit.
After Gutierrez walked third baseman Charlie Culberson, Lopez
entered and gave up a Morneau's hit that put Colorado on top 8-7.
As a pinch hitter, Morneau had a slightly different approach at the
plate.
"Just trying to have a quality at-bat, just try to put some good
swings on the ball, and try not to do too much," the veteran said.
"In the limited pinch-hitting opportunities that I've had, I think
the times when you get in trouble is when you're up there trying to
hit a home run. ... The simplest approach is sometimes the best, and
that's all I was trying to do today."
The Giants jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning. Left
fielder Tyler Colvin and shortstop Brandon Crawford opened the
second with back-to-back walks before second baseman Ehire Adrianza
singled home a run.
Bumgarner bunted, and Rockies pitcher Juan Nicasio throw the ball
away trying for the out at first. Crawford scored, and everybody was
safe. Center fielder Gregor Blanco and right fielder Hunter Pence
followed with back-to-back singles, bringing in another run.
Nicasio lasted just two-plus innings, giving up three runs on four
hits and four walks while striking out two. He has a 16.36 ERA in
June, but he did manage to get out of two bases-loaded jams with no
outs. In all, the Giants left 14 men on base.
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"I thought early we had a chance to just put that game away," San
Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. "We had the bases loaded twice
and couldn't get a run in, and those things sometimes catch up with
you."
Early on, though, the Giants piled on runs. Pinch hitter Hector
Sanchez, third baseman Pablo Sandoval and Bumgarner all went deep
for the Giants, while Tulowitzki hit his 18th home run of the season
for Colorado. Sanchez entered the game in the fourth inning in place
of catcher Buster Posey, who took a foul ball off his mask. Posey
was tested for a concussion but was feeling better after the game.
He expects to start Tuesday after the Giants' off day.
Colvin added an RBI single to score Sandoval in the sixth, making it
7-4.
Rockies reliever Matt Belisle (2-2) threw a scoreless seventh inning
to earn the win.
With Colorado closer LaTroy Hawkins pitching in the bottom of the
ninth, Adrianza worked a one-out walk. When the next batter, left
fielder Juan Perez, was called out on strikes, Bochy stormed onto
the field, emphatically argued the call, and was ejected for the
second time this year. Hawkins got Blanco to fly out to end the game
and earn his 14th save of the year.
San Francisco finished its seven-game homestand 1-6 against the
Washington Nationals and the Rockies. Despite that, the Giants
(43-27) still own the best record in baseball. They head to Chicago
to face the White Sox in interleague play starting Tuesday, while
the Rockies will head to Los Angeles for a three-game set with the
Dodgers that starts Monday.
NOTES: Giants CF Angel Pagan was scratched an hour prior to first
pitch due to lower back stiffness. Gregor Blanco moved to center
field and batted leadoff, and Tyler Colvin played left and hit
sixth. ... With his inside-the-park home run in the ninth inning of
Saturday's game, Rockies OF Brandon Barnes now has two homers on the
season. The other was also an inside-the-park home run (at Coors
Field on June 5 against Arizona), which makes him the first major
league player in 31 years whose first two homers of the year were
both hit inside the park. ... Giants RHP Santiago Casilla (strained
right hamstring) made his second rehab appearance for Class A San
Jose on Saturday night, tossing two hitless innings and allowing one
walk. He is expected to be activated before the team returns to
action Tuesday.
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