Arenado, CarGo lead Rockies past Giants
SAN FRANCISCO -- Nolan Arenado homered twice, giving him six in the last five games, and Carlos Gonzalez delivered five hits as the Rockies held off the Giants in the ninth and won for the fifth time in six games, 8-6, at AT&T Park on Friday night.
Arenado, who has a 13-game hit streak, homered off starter Tim Hudson (5-7) for three runs in the top of the sixth and added his 22nd homer -- a solo shot off Mike Broadway -- for an important run in the ninth. Troy Tulowitzki and Charlie Blackmon each extended hit streaks to 10 games, and the offense had 17 hits.
The Rockies, who began a 10-game road trip Friday, have tallied 40 runs and 65 hits in the last six games.
"It's almost do-or-die time for us," Arenado said. "We don't want to dig ourselves such a big hole at the All-Star break to where we're going to be in trouble."
Gonzalez, back in the lineup after being limited to defensive reserve duty the last two games because of a sprained left hand, finished a homer shy of the cycle and broke a 3-3 tie with an RBI double off Javier Lopez (0-1) with two down in the seventh. Ben Paulsen followed with a two-run single.
Video: COL@SF: CarGo delivers five hits against the Giants
"Javy came in, he's been kind of our iron horse the whole year coming in, getting lefties out," Giants catcher Andrew Susac said. "It's one of those things where he's thrown four or five days in a row now."
Gonzalez tripled off Broadway and scored on a passed ball before Arenado's second homer. Rockies reliever Tommy Kahnle -- pitching because LaTroy Hawkins had warmed up the last three games and appeared in one, and John Axford had thrown 57 pitches the previous two games -- gave up two runs in the ninth but fanned Buster Posey with two on to end it.
Video: COL@SF: Kahnle fans Posey to escape jam, secure win
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Staying hot: After rolling a grounder to third with two on to end the third, Arenado nailed his chance in the sixth with a three-run homer to left off Hudson for a 3-1 Rockies lead. After Gonzalez scored on a passed ball in the ninth, Arenado followed with a solo shot off Broadway for his 15th homer in his last 32 games.
Video: COL@SF: Arenado crushes his second homer of the game
"We're having good at-bats as a team," Arenado said. "We're getting production when we need it."
Bad break: With one out and runners on first and second in the bottom of the ninth and the Giants trailing by two after scoring three runs, Matt Duffy slapped a 3-1 pitch off Kahnle down the right-field line that nearly caught the chalk, but was ruled foul. After a replay review, the umpires confirmed the ball landed in foul territory. A fair ball could have tied the game, but Kahnle retired Duffy on the next pitch.
Video: COL@SF: Duffy's foul ball confirmed in the 9th
"If that ball hits the line, it may be a tie ballgame with the winning run in scoring position with the best hitter in the league [Posey] coming up," starter Tim Hudson said. More >
Susac stretches streak: Susac extended his hit streak when he deposited Bettis' 1-1 hanging curveball into the left-field seats in his second at-bat of the ballgame. The homer marked the catcher's 10th hit during his career-best seven-game hitting streak.
Video: COL@SF: Susac drills solo shot to break scoreless tie
"Reps are always good," Susac, who has seen his playing time increase over the past month, said. "I'm getting into some good grooves."
Cracking the lefty code: Lefty hitters were 3-for-39 off Lopez until Gonzalez caught a slider over the plate and Paulsen tapped a bouncer through the infield for the run-scoring hits in the seventh.
Video: COL@SF: Paulsen singles in two, play at dish stands
"CarGo's at-bat against Lopez was outstanding, and I had an approach to just look away and I hit that through the hole," Paulsen said.
QUOTABLE
"We're performing offensively. We're first in the National League in just about every offensive category. We weren't rolling early on, but we're putting together some good at-bats now." -- Rockies manager Walt Weiss
MORE REPLAY REVIEW
With runners on first and second and two outs in the top of the second inning, Colorado's Brandon Barnes hit a slow roller to Duffy. The third baseman picked it up and fired to first, but Barnes' foot touched the bag just before the ball entered Posey's glove. Giants manager Bruce Bochy elected to challenge the call, but the review crew determined the call stands.
Video: COL@SF: Barnes is called safe at first, call stands
In the seventh, Paulsen pulled a single between Duffy and shortstop Brandon Crawford with two outs to score Tulowitzki and Gonzalez. Left fielder Brandon Belt made the play close with a throw home to try to get Gonzalez, but he was ruled safe. Umpires reviewed the play, but again ruled the call stands.
WHAT'S NEXT
Rockies: Lefty Chris Rusin (3-2, 5.03 ERA), who while pitching for the Cubs last year held the Giants scoreless for seven innings in a start at AT&T Park, will face the Giants on Saturday at 2:05 p.m. MT.
Giants: The Giants send Tim Lincecum to the mound for the second game of the series at 1:05 p.m. PT on Saturday. Lincecum has pitched much better at home this season, posting a 5-2 record and 2.14 ERA at AT&T Park versus a 2-2 record and 6.06 ERA on the road.
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