Rockies Struggle For Runs, Timely Offense Again
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Manager Walt Weiss certainly wants to get Colorado's offensive woes figured out in a hurry.
Nolan Arenado hit two doubles, but the run-starved Rockies lost their season-high sixth straight game and fourth in a row held to one or fewer runs with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of the San Francisco Giants on Monday.
"I thought our approach was better, we swung the bats better, but not well enough to put together a big inning," said Weiss, who before the game noted, "I'm not going to panic because we had a poor offensive series."
The Rockies have lost their last three July 4 games and are 0-4 on Independence Day in San Francisco.
Jake Peavy shut down Colorado and saved a taxed and tired Giants bullpen, backed by Angel Pagan's two-run home and a solo shot from Buster Posey.
Colorado loaded the bases in the second on Ryan Raburn's one-out double, a single by Mark Reynolds and Nick Hundley's walk before Peavy was called for a balk to force in the game's first run.
That was it for the Rockies.
"I think the tendency is for guys who press to do too much and maybe some guys take uncharacteristic swings, pitchers feel like they have to go out there and be perfect," Reynolds said. "It's a frustrating place to be as a team, but I've been on teams where you go through these kinds of stretches and then all of a sudden something clicks and you go on a roll."
San Francisco got that first run right back on Posey's 10th homer. Pagan, back in his old spot batting leadoff and playing center field in place of the injured Denard Span, connected for his fourth home run in the third against Tyler Anderson (0-3).
The left-hander, making his fifth career start, allowed three runs and four hits in six innings while facing the Giants for the first time. He is still looking for first major league win.
"He's done a nice job each time out for us," Weiss said. "Unfortunately we haven't been able to get him a win, but he put us in a position to win."
Peavy (5-7) struck out six over 6 2-3 innings to bounce back from his third-shortest outing of the season. He left to a standing ovation and tipped his cap while exiting in the seventh after a two-out single by pinch-hitter Cristhian Adames. Giants right fielder Mac Williamson made a beautiful diving catch to start the inning.
Santiago Casilla pitched the ninth for his 20th save in 24 chances.
DANGEROUS ARENADO
Arenado is batting .378 (17 for 45) with three home runs, 18 RBIs, eight doubles, a triple and eight runs scored in 11 games against the Giants this season — so keeping his hits inside the fences and without an RBI counted as a good day for San Francisco's pitchers.
"We've helped make every one of his cases, Gold Glove, batting title, all of the above," Peavy said.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Umpires: Home plate umpire Gerry Davis — with a history of concussions — was hit three times, twice in the mask and then in the right arm in the fifth with Peavy on the mound. He stayed in the game. Umpire supervisor Ed Montague went to check on him after the fourth and trainers also examined him on the field.
Rockies: Rookie SS Trevor Story was back in the starting lineup for first time in four games. The All-Star candidate bruised his right middle finger after getting hit by a pitch on June 26. He came into Sunday's game against the Dodgers in the seventh inning on a double switch. ... RHP Adam Ottavino, out for more than two months with elbow soreness, joined the team Monday after rehab stints at Single-A Modesto and Triple-A Albuquerque. The Rockies' closer could be activated before the All-Star break.
Giants: RHP Sergio Romo was reinstated from the 60-day DL list after being sidelined since April 11 with an elbow injury. He retired one batter in the seventh for his fifth appearance all year. ... Span missed his fourth straight game with a stiff neck and received trigger-point injections. ... 2B Joe Panik is unlikely to return from a concussion until after the All-Star break.
UP NEXT
Rockies: RHP Tyler Chatwood (8-4, 3.15 ERA) is set to come off the DL from a strained middle back that landed him on the DL on June 19. He is 1-1 against the Giants this season.
Giants: LHP Madison Bumgarner (9-4, 2.20), a strong candidate to earn his fourth straight All-Star bid Tuesday, looks to build on his 12-6 career record against the Rockies in 24 starts. The ace is batting .246 (14 for 57) with four of his 13 career home runs — including a grand slam — and 15 RBIs vs. Colorado.
