Amazing catch in San Francisco as Rockies roll
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Rockies got to Giants starter Tim Hudson early, with eight hits in the first four innings, and used an all-hands pitching effort to win, 4-1, at AT&T Park on Tuesday night.
The Rockies scored twice in the second, one run on a Corey Dickerson RBI single, the other on Hudson's wild pitch, and got a safety squeeze from DJ LeMahieu in the fourth. After that, Hudson retired 11 straight and 12 of the next 13 before leaving the game after seven innings.
Video: COL@SF: Hudson strikes out four in solid start
Starter Christian Bergman, who had thrown one inning since the start of the regular season, stayed a step ahead while throwing 85 pitches through four innings (four hits, two walks, four strikeouts). Reliever Scott Oberg (1-0) pitched around a Nori Aoki leadoff single in the fifth, and manager Walt Weiss passed the ball to LaTroy Hawkins, Christian Friedrich, Rafael Betancourt (who gave up a run) and newly declared closer Adam Ottavino (first save). It was Ottavino's second career save.
"It's a great sign -- we talked about it quite a bit this spring, we've got to get better on the road," said Rockies manager Walt Weiss of the 5-0 road start, which is best in club history. "We're playing good baseball, regardless where we play."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
A Gold moment: With two on and no outs in the eighth, Rockies two-time Rawlings Gold Glove third baseman Nolan Arenado dashed into the Giants' bullpen and made an over-the-head snag of Gregor Blanco's foul fly while crashing into the tarpaulin roll and landing atop the wall. While perched, he nearly threw out Angel Pagan, who was tagging to take third.
Video: Must C Catch: Arenado slams into tarp, reels in out
"All in all, I'm just thankful I didn't get hurt," Arenado said. More >
Scoring drought ends: After going 18 straight innings without a run, the Giants finally scored one in the eighth. Pagan blooped a leadoff single to left and moved to second when Brandon Belt walked. Pagan tagged up and went to third when Arenado made his spectacular catch. Matt Duffy brought Pagan home with a sacrifice fly, but Betancourt retired pinch-hitter Buster Posey thanks to Charlie Blackmon's catch against the wall in center. More >
Video: COL@SF: Blackmon makes a big catch in center
Streak goes on: Giants left fielder Aoki extended his career-best hitting streak to 17 games with an infield single off Oberg. As Joe Panik took a called third strike, Aoki stole his second base of the season, putting himself in scoring position. But Pagan and Belt grounded out. Aoki has hit safely in each of his first nine games as a Giant and has confidence in his new club.
"The season's long," Aoki said. "There's going to be our ups and downs. The most important thing right now is just to grind it out."
Video: COL@SF: Aoki extends hitting streak to 17 games
More than one way to go small and get home: On two occasions this season, including Monday, calling a hit-and-run with LeMahieu up and Nick Hundley at first hasn't worked. On Tuesday, with Dickerson at third and Hundley at first, LeMahieu took a different tack. He dropped a safety squeeze to drive in the team's third run.
Video: COL@SF: LeMahieu plates Dickerson with sacrifice bunt
QUOTABLE
"I'm not against closer by committee or anything, but I think Otto deserves a shot at closing games. We've got some guys that can do it, but Otto will do well in that role." -- Weiss after informing Ottavino before Tuesday night's game that he is the closer, with Hawkins having been moved to a middle relief role. More >
Video: COL@SF: Ottavino fans Aoki to record the save
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Tuesday's victory gave the Rockies just their 11th series win in 45 of them at AT&T Park since it opened in 2000. If the Rockies complete the sweep, it would be just their fourth. The last sweep was a three-gamer last June 13-15.
WHAT'S NEXT
Rockies: Rockies lefty Tyler Matzek gave up four hits and walked three in four inefficient innings in his maiden start this season, at home against the Cubs -- a game the Rockies eventually won. He'll try to rebound Wednesday night in the series finale with the Giants at AT&T Park at 8:15 MT. The game will be carried on Root Sports Rocky Mountain and 850 KOA.
Giants: Right-hander Tim Lincecum will make his second start of the season and first this year at AT&T Park on Wednesday night at 7:15 PT in the finale of the Giants' three-game series against Colorado. Lincecum pitched seven shutout innings Friday and got a no-decision in a 1-0 loss to the Padres at Petco Park.
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