Pitching Can’t Slow Giants Bats, Rockies Lose 11-6
Rookies led the way for the Colorado Rockies (38-67) again, but a 14-hit, six run offensive showing was not enough as pitching couldn't slow the San Francisco Giants (58-49) who earned the 11-6 victory last night in Denver. The Rockies have now lost seven straight series, with the final game of this one today at 1:10 at Coors Field (TV: Root Sports).
Colorado starter Jeff Francis seemed to be enjoying a relatively strong start by allowing three runs in three innings. With the Rockies bullpen a bit shell-shocked after Friday night's 16-4 shellacking, Colorado was looking for length from the left-hander, but when he walked in the sixth run with two out in the fourth, Francis was finished for the night.
"We're not disappointed in six runs and 14 hits and a lot of young kids out there on that field," manager Jim Tracy said. "The tough part once again, we spotted them six in 3 2/3 innings."
It took the Rockies 16 outs, but they finally got to Giants starter Madison Bumgarner (12-6, 3.03 ERA) in the sixth courtesy of rookie Josh Rutledge, who launched his sixth roundtripper since making his big league debut three weeks ago -- and his fifth home run in the last six games.
With the Rockies starting the game 28 games under .500, their rookie position players have consistently given the club something to cheer about. Rutledge entered the game leading all rookies with 27 hits since his debut, Jordan Pacheco's .306 season average was tops among NL rookies entering play Saturday and Wilin Rosario's 18 homers and 44 RBIs both set the standard in the Senior Circuit.
Official: Saturday's Box Score.
But Saturday night was Matt McBride's night to shine as the 27-year-old made his Major League debut, notched his first hit in the fifth and plated his first run with a double in the Rockies' two-run seventh. McBride came around to score when Jonathan Herrera drove a run-scoring single to center.
Colorado climbed back within reach with its late awakening at the plate, but a four-run Giants eighth marked the second rout in as many days. An error by Rosario, who came in to make just his third career appearance at third base as part of a double-switch in the seventh, accounted for the first run of the inning when Rosario, usually a catcher, cut off a throw to the plate from left fielder Carlos Gonzalez that appeared on track to beat Brandon Belt home.
From there, the floodgates opened, with a solo homer from Angel Pagan pacing the Giants to a seven-run lead before they held on as the Rockies scored twice in the eighth and once in the ninth.
Tickets are available for this afternoon's game at Coors Field vs. the San Francisco Giants, and can be purchased by calling (800) 388-ROCK, or click here.
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