The Colorado Rockies simply could not catch a break in their first game against the San Francisco Giants by the bay. Missing out on multiple opportunities and running into some sheer poor dumb luck, the visitors played well and fought hard but lost a tough one by a score of 3-2 to their divisional opponent.
Colorado got on the board in the second with their first hit in the game, a solo home run off the bat of Ian Desmond who turned on a low offspeed pitch to launch one into the left-field bleachers for his 16th round-tripper of the season.
The tough luck started for the Rockies in the third when Bettis drew a one-out walk and moved to third on a DJ LeMahieu single. Then Charlie Blackmon ripped a line drive down the first-base line but Brandon Belt was in position to snag it and step on the bag to double off LeMahieu.
The lead lasted just one inning until Gorkys Hernandez led off the third with a solo shot, his 10th homer of the year, getting ahold of a fastball that caught too much plate from Bettis.
The Rockies missed another chance to take the lead in the top of the fifth, beginning the inning with back-to-back singles from Carlos Gonzalez and Tom Murphy that put runners at first and third with no outs. But Gerardo Parra and Chad Bettis each struck out swinging and DJ LeMahieu flew out to center field to strand them both.
A one-out single from Parra in the seventh, followed by a successful sac bunt from Bettis, gave the Rockies another chance to plate a run but LeMahieu struck out, leaving him at second.
Bettis stayed on for the bottom of the seventh despite an elevating pitch count and gave up a solid single to Austin Slater and then Hunter Pence happened into a swinging bunt that Arenado let go in hopes it would roll foul. But instead it bounced up against the bag for another single. Hernandez advanced both runners with a bunt and the Rockies intentionally passed on Buster Posey before Bud Black went to Adam Ottavino with the bases loaded and one out.
Otto got McCutchen to swing underneath the baseball, hitting a fly ball into straight away left. Parra made the catch and a near-perfect throw home but Slater slid in just before the tag to score the go-ahead run.
But the Rockies struck back, getting a two-out single from Story who scored the tying run when Desmond ripped a line drive by McCutchen in right field, making it all the way to third, though being credited with a double. Carlos Gonzalez grounded out to first, stranding Desmond at third.
The terrible luck continued for the Rockies in the eighth after a one-out single from Brandon Crawford, who stole second, and an intentional pass of Joe Panik, Ottavino struck out slater then walked pinch-hitter Alen Hanson.
In the ensuing at-bat, Otto threw three pitches that appeared to be strikes that were called balls, walking Hernandez to bring in another go-ahead run for the Giants, giving them a 3-2 lead.
Tom Murphy even doubled to lead off the ninth and Chris Iannetta drew a one-out walk after Parra struck out, but LeMahieu hit into a game-ending double play, teased one last time by a bobble at second. But in this game of inches, the Giants got all the little breaks.
Colorado went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
The fall to 38-41, 23-19 on the road.
What’s Next:
The series continues Wednesday night in a battle of famous lefties (maybe one slightly more famous than the other) as Kyle Freeland faces off against Madison Bumgarner. First pitch at 8:15 Mountain Time.
