Giants Fall To Rockies On Mother's Day In 2-0 Loss
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS/AP) -- Nolan Arenado powered the Colorado Rockies to a strong finish for their successful road trip.
Arenado had three hits, Eddie Butler pitched six innings for his first win since being promoted from the minors, and the Rockies beat the San Francisco Giants 2-0 on Sunday.
Colorado went 6-4 on its first winning road trip of 10 games or longer since 2009. It was the Rockies' longest road trip of the season.
"A really good road trip," manager Walt Weiss said. "The fact that all 10 games (were) in the division . and to come out with a winning record, it's a big step."
Arenado, who leads the majors with 12 homers, just missed hitting for the cycle for the first time in his career. The star third baseman hit a run-scoring triple off the brick wall in right-center in his first at-bat, singled in the third and doubled in the eighth.
"I was happy I hit the ball hard," Arenado said. "When you're hitting homers sometimes you get in the habit of dipping and start popping up. I was really happy I was able to stay on top of the ball, hit my line drives and have quality at-bats."
Gerardo Parra singled in a run and made a diving catch, helping the Rockies salvage a split of the four-game series. Rookie Trevor Story doubled and scored.
Hunter Pence had three of San Francisco's six hits to break out of a 3-for-15 slump. Jeff Samardzija (4-2) struck out nine in 7 2/3 innings and was charged with two runs and eight hits.
Butler (1-1) allowed four hits and struck out six to earn his first win since May 30, 2015. Butler, a first-round pick in 2012, has five career victories—three against San Francisco.
"Just attacking the zone," Butler said. "Early on a couple times I got behind in the count and they hit a couple balls pretty well. In the fourth or fifth inning I really started getting into a good rhythm."
The Rockies, coming off a 13-inning loss on Saturday, gave Butler just enough run support.
Boone Logan, Carlos Estevez, Chad Qualls and Jake McGee pitched the final three innings to finish the six-hitter. McGee worked the ninth for his eighth save.
The Giants couldn't get much going in the series finale.
San Francisco had a runner thrown out trying to steal third in the first, left the bases loaded in the second and stranded a runner at third in the seventh when Brandon Crawford and Mac Williamson struck out swinging.
The Giants also put two on in the eighth before Qualls got Buster Posey to fly out.
Samardzija lost for the first time since April 17.
"We didn't do enough offensively to help him out," San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. "We couldn't push anything across. That's two days in a row no runs after nine innings."
SOLID DEBUT
Albert Suarez was the only Giants reliever who didn't pitch in the 13-inning game, but he worked the ninth in his major league debut Sunday. The right-hander gave up a single to DJ LeMahieu and then got Ben Paulsen to ground into a double play before retiring Dustin Garneau on a grounder.
"He lost the first guy but didn't lose his poise and came back to get the double play," Bochy said. "We need someone like him to pick up innings for us."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rockies: LHP Jorge De La Rosa is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment on Monday. He has been on the disabled list with a strained left groin since April 27. ... Jason Motte (shoulder strain) will face hitters on Monday and could be sent on a rehab stint soon.
Giants: RHP George Kontos (right flexor strain) threw 21 pitches and gave up one hit for Triple-A Sacramento in his first rehab appearance.
UP NEXT
Rockies: RHP Tyler Chatwood (4-2) takes a 16 1/3 inning scoreless streak into the series opener against Arizona on Monday. Chatwood's 2.15 ERA is ninth-lowest in the NL.
Giants: RHP Jake Peavy (1-3) pitches against Toronto on Monday at AT&T Park. Peavy gave up four home runs in his previous start and has a 9.00 ERA.
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