Bullpen implodes, Rockies settle for series split in San Fran

For the second consecutive game, the Colorado Rockies offense showed fight and got key hits but the bullpen couldn’t hold and instead of getting their second ever four-game series win against the San Francisco Giants, would have to settle for the split.

The 9-5 final score may suggest this one was not close, but it was a back-and-forth affair that saw the two teams tied in the seventh before a four-run inning for the Giants put the game away.

San Francisco took an early lead in the first thanks to a one-out triple into that crazy gap in right-center field. He scored on a sac fly from Evan Longoria that featured a fantastic diving catch from Noel Cuevas who had a nice game in both the field and at the plate.

Colorado tied it in the fourth on a Trevor Story double that bounced half-way up the wall in straightaway center field, scoring Nolan Arenado who had singled. Story scored on a single up the middle in yet another professional at-bat from Cuevas who was then narrowly thrown out at home plate after a Pat Valaika double.

That rally ended in frustrating fashion for the visitors but they kept it going in the following frame, getting a surprise lead-off single from Anderson followed by a Charlie Blackmon walk. Ian Desmond struck out and Arenado singled but too hard to left to get the run in.

Story wasn’t going to get another look at a lefty and took an ugly swing early against righty reliever Cory Gearrin but battled, fouling off some tough pitches until he tapped one lightly to short. Brandon Crawford elected to attempt a superhuman play, coming home with the throw, but it skipped past Nick Hundley at the plate allowing a run to score. Cuevas again helped the cause, drawing a bases-loaded walk to add another run.

Carlos Gonzalez struck out looking to leave ’em loaded, but the Rockies had taken a 4-1 lead.

That was cut into immediately on a two-run home run from Gorkys Hernandez to dead center.

Anderson continued to look tired into the sixth, giving up a single and walk before being replaced by Bryan Shaw who surrendered a two-run triple to Kelby Tomlinson that swung the game in the Giants favor.

The Rockies tied it up right away on a manufactured run in the seventh. Ian Desmond walked, stole second and moved to third on a throwing error, allowing Arenado’s grounder up the middle to score him with ease.

But the bullpen’s rough series struck again in the eighth when Shaw allowed a pair of baserunners before Jake McGee gave up a three-run blast to Belt on a no-doubter to right. Former Rockie Nick Hundley followed with a solo homer of his own and the game had slipped away from Colorado.

The Rockies fall to 25-21, 18-11 on the road. They were briefly tied with the Arizona Diamondbacks (who have lost 10 of their last 11) for first place in the NL West but now stand a half-game back.

Final Stats:

Tyler Anderson: 5.1 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 4 K

Bryan Shaw: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB

Jake McGee: 0.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER

Harrison Musgrave: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER 1 BB, 1 K

Nolan Arenado: 3-for-5, 1 R, 1 RBI

Trevor Story: 3-for-5, 1 R, 2 RBI

Noel Cuevas: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, BB

What’s Next:

The Rockies continue their NL West swing with a three-game set beginning on Monday at the Los Angeles Dodgers who are heating up. German Marquez will face Walker Buehler in the first game. First pitch at 8:10 Mountain Time.