Giants Top Rockies, Hold NL West Lead; Belt's Hand Hurt
DENVER (AP) -- Brandon Crawford homered to cap a four-run ninth inning and the San Francisco Giants held their lead in the NL West, beating the Colorado Rockies 6-2 on Sunday.
The Giants, who have won 15 of 19, began the day with a two-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers. San Francisco now heads home to Oracle Park with a chance to clinch their first division title since 2012.
Giants first baseman Brandon Belt left the game in the seventh inning after getting hit on the left hand with a pitch while squaring to bunt. Manager Gabe Kapler said X-rays were inconclusive and Belt will be reevaluated back in San Francisco.
San Francisco had to work for its sixth straight win at Coors Field, and its 102nd victory overall — its most since winning 103 in 1993.
It was 2-all when reliever Daniel Bard (7-8) walked Steven Duggar and Wilmer Flores, and pinch-hitter Tommy La Stella lined an RBI single with one out.
Tyler Kinley replaced Bard and Crawford connected with two outs for his 23rd homer.
Camilo Doval (5-1) pitched the eighth inning for the win.
San Francisco starter Kevin Gausman struck out 11 in six innings but was left with a no-decision when Colorado tied it in the seventh.
Gausman retired 13 straight after Garrett Hampson's single to lead off the first inning. C.J. Cron ended the streak with his 28th homer with one out in the fifth that cut San Francisco's lead to 2-1.
Giants reliever Ryan Littell committed a balk in the seventh to put runners on second and third. Cron, who led off with a single, scored on a grounder when he beat the throw home from second baseman Donovan Solano that tied it at 2.
The Giants scored their first run on a groundout in the second inning and added another in the fifth. Belt reached on a bloop double with two outs and scored on Kris Bryant's single.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Giants: INF Darin Ruf (right oblique strain) was planning on taking swings Sunday and is hopeful to come off the 10-day injured list on Thursday, the first day he is eligible.
PAINFUL PITCH
Belt was hit when he squared to bunt against reliever Lucas Gilbreath. He stayed in the game to run but Flores took over at first in the bottom of the inning.
Belt's absence was magnified when Flores' error in the seventh contributed to the tying run.
UP NEXT
Giants: Have an off day on Monday and then host Arizona on Tuesday in the first of six home games against the Diamondbacks and San Diego to close the regular season. San Francisco has not announced a starter for Tuesday.
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