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 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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reserved.]
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