DENVER -- Garrett Hampson pushes each of his sporadic opportunities to impact Rockies games. He did Monday night, although the results were cruel.

Hampson tripped and fell rounding third for what likely would have been a run in the third inning. He drove in a run on a double in the fifth, only to be stopped at third by crisp relay throws. Either play would have been big. Both could have turned the 2-1 loss to the Giants, who swept a doubleheader at Coors Field.

“That’s why I’m in there -- make things happen with my legs,” Hampson said. “Unfortunately, pretty big plays there. But I’m going to stay aggressive and be safe next time.”

Can’t blame Hampson, a multiposition player who has been up and down between the Majors and Triple-A Albuquerque. His impact has increased during his latest callup -- 11-for-40 (.275), including Monday’s 1-for-3 in Game 2.

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And on Sunday, he scored the run that made the difference in a 10-9 win over the Reds with his main tool -- speed. On Antonio Senzatela’s infield groundout, Hampson hit 30.9 feet per second (elite speed, per Statcast), while dashing all the way from second base for the 10th run. Another run or two Monday could have made all the difference when the Rockies had what manager Bud Black termed a “frustrating” five-hit night.

Instead, the Rockies fell to two games below .500 for the first time since May 27.

Hampson fell, but Black noted that he didn’t fail.

“His game is built on his legs, putting the bat to the ball and playing an energetic game, and pressuring the defense. ... I like that part of his game,” Black said.

In the third inning Monday night, Hampson reached when Giants first baseman Brandon Belt dropped a throw. When Giants right fielder Austin Slater -- whose interesting night was linked to Hampson’s -- misplayed Charlie Blackmon’s fly ball into a two-base error, Hampson rounded third, only to fall in the grass outside the baseline. He couldn’t make it back to third in time, however.

“Unfortunately, I kind of lost my balance around third -- that one’s on me,” Hampson said.

Hampson doubled over Slater’s outstretched glove with one out in the fifth, driving in Raimel Tapia for the only run against Giants starter Dereck Rodriguez in five innings. Hampson pushed for third, but Giants second baseman Donovan Solano took Slater’s throw and hit Pablo Sandoval at third with a dart. Hampson was ruled safe, only to have it overturned on replay.

“I’m going to go on that every time, especially with one out,” Hampson said. “Credit to them. I haven’t watched the replay but I’m sure it was a good relay. Close play, unfortunately didn’t work out.

“I felt like I was in there. Pretty close. On the replay, he might’ve tagged me on my helmet right before I slid in there.”

Reigning National League Player of the Week Daniel Murphy noted that at least Hampson put himself in position to make a difference.

“We ended up making some outs on the basepaths with Hamp -- they weren’t foolish mistakes,” Murphy said. “He slips on the one and makes, I thought, a pretty good decision with one out to go to third base. They made a couple of good plays on him.

“In reality, we didn’t score a lot of runs, but if he doesn’t get popped right there on the bases twice, it’s probably a completely different game. But we’ve got to swing the bat better -- myself included.”

Stephen Vogt and Brandon Crawford (who drove in eight runs in the 19-2 first-game Giants win) homered consecutively in the fourth, the only blemishes against Rockies callup starter Chi Chi Gonzalez (who was optioned back to Triple-A Albuquerque after the game). It marked the first time in Rockies history they had lost at Coors Field when the opponent’s only scoring was two solo homers, and the 18th time since the inaugural 1993 season that the Rockies lost when giving up two or fewer runs at home.

In these high-scoring times at Coors Field, a 2-1 game is an anomaly, one ripe for a fresh, enthusiastic spark plug.

Another time, maybe it works.