Rockies pull off 9th-inning rally -- then stave one off -- in win over Giants

SAN FRANCISCO -- On a night when their defense was the best thing going through eight innings, the Rockies put together a ninth-inning comeback seemingly out of nowhere.

Just like that, instead of facing a 2-0 series deficit against the Giants, Colorado is in position to take control of the entire weekend.

That’s the difference a big rally in the final inning will do to a team.

The Rockies did exactly that, rallying to beat the Giants, 4-3, in front of a silenced Oracle Park crowd.

“That’s just how we play,” third baseman Kyle Karros said. “We stay in ballgames, we try to pick each other up. And that was on full display tonight.”

The Rockies offense had more walks than hits for the majority of the game before getting the bats working in the ninth.

Mickey Moniak began the rally with a leadoff single against Caleb Killian. Pinch-hitter Troy Johnston walked and Jake McCarthy reached on a bunt single -- his third hit of the night -- when he was trying to move the runners over. Karros followed with a sharp two-run single up the middle to give the Rockies a lead before Cole Carrigg added a sacrifice fly.

It is only the third time in 51 games this season that the Rockies have won despite trailing after eight innings.

Colorado had to stave off a San Francisco comeback in the bottom half of the ninth, as the Giants loaded the bases and put the tying run on third after Rafael Devers plated a run on a sacrifice fly.

Before the comeback, the best thing going for the Rockies was their defense.

“We take pride in our defense,” Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer said. “The guys showed up for sure. Good pitching overall. And we played good defense.”

Carrigg made a sliding catch in right-center to rob Heliot Ramos of a hit in the first inning.

Carrigg later made a heads up play when he caught Casey Schmitt’s flyout then fired the ball back to the infield to double up Luis Arraez, who singled to lead off the inning. The Giants challenged, but the call was upheld after replay review.

“There were definitely a lot of good plays tonight made by everyone,” Carrigg said. “When you can do that it just helps your pitcher out more. At any point in the game if you can steal outs it’s going to put you in a better spot. That's all I’m looking to do, steal outs for my pitcher and give him the best chance I can.”

Rockies starter Tanner Gordon was very appreciative of Carrigg’s work.

“I know Carrigg’s going to go out there and put his body on the line for anything, whether he’s running into the wall, whether he’s diving,” Gordon said. “Then he’s got a cannon of an arm, too.”

First baseman TJ Rumfield also made a nice play to snag a sharp liner by Ramos to end the fourth with runners on the corners.

Gordon worked five innings and allowed one run, while keeping the Giants’ big bats quiet. It was the second consecutive start against the Giants for Gordon who took a no-decision against San Francisco on July 5 after serving up a career-high-tying four home runs.

Gordon was much sharper this time around, although he had a hiccup in the second inning when he served up a hanging curve to Rafael Devers, who smashed his 19th home run to give the Giants a 1-0 lead.

San Francisco loaded the bases with two outs in the third following an infield single, a throwing error and intentional walk but Gordon worked out of it by getting Willy Adames to fly out,

The Rockies stranded three runners in the first three innings before pushing a run across in the fifth. Ezequiel Tovar and McCarthy hit back-to-back doubles to tie the game at 1-1.

Colorado’s bullpen, which has been a strong suit of the Rockies in July, couldn’t keep it even

Devers hit a two-out RBI single off Jimmy Herget in the seventh to give San Francisco a 2-1 lead.