Cueto, Giants dominate Rockies 8-3

Denver — The Colorado Rockies were dismantled by the San Francisco Giants, breezing to an 8-3 win at Coors Field on a gray Sunday afternoon.

Starting pitcher Chris Rusin was knocked around early and often but had to stick through it with no long-man available in the ‘pen. He labored through five innings, giving up six runs on 11 hits, including the first home run he has surrendered in 2016. The homer was a monster shot off the bat of Denard Span that nearly made the third deck in right field.

All told, the Giants offense exploded for 17 hits and eight runs, continuing to roll after scoring six times in the eighth inning a day ago.

The Rockies got on the board in the second on Trevor Story’s 14th home run of the season. The rookie tied Nolan Arenado for the team lead and moved to within one of the top spot in the National League. He extended his lead in the NL in the category of extra base hits.

At this point, Story should be way out in front of any Rookie-of-the-Year Power Rankings and should be getting some serious All-Star consideration.

Other than Story’s home run and a bases-loaded walk to Arenado in the third, Giants starter Johnny Cueto was his usual self. He went six innings, giving up only one earned run on six hits. Not his best work, but that is what the great one’s do when they don’t have their best stuff.

Carlos Gonzalez smashed his eighth home run of the season on a laser-beam to right-center that has only landed because it slammed into the back of the bullpen wall 456 feet away. It was the second time in two days he has taken lefty Josh Osich deep. Like … way deep.

Lasting Impact

The game to win in this series was Saturday’s. Chris Rusin versus Johnny Cueto never looked to be a game in the Rockies favor, and nothing that happened in this one should be overly analyzed. For the upcoming schedule, the Rockies are surely all hoping that Gonzalez is about to go on one of his trademark offensive onslaughts.

Rusin was never going to be the answer in the rotation but if the Rockies keep winning the games started by other guys in the rotation, the surprise contention could hasten the arrival of one Jeff Hoffman. Hoffman — a major part of the Troy Tulowitzki trade — currently sports a 2.69 ERA through 10 games in the PCL.

What’s Next

The nightmare stretch in the schedule finally ends as the woeful Cincinnati Reds come to town. Game 1 is a Monday afternoon game for Memorial Day. Chadd Bettis takes on Dan Straily at 2:10 MST.