— Sports

Blackmon’s 3-run HR caps comeback as Rockies, Giants split

DENVER (AP) – Charlie Blackmon hit a three-run, two-out homer off Camilo Doval to cap a comeback from a four-run deficit in the final inning, giving the Colorado Rockies an 8-6 win over the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night for a doubleheader split.

“We had five guys in a row reach. That was pretty awesome hitting, and I felt things were going our way,” Blackmon said. Brandon Belt hit a go-ahead single and a grand slam in a 10-run first inning that propelled the Giants to a 12-4 victory in the opener, then homered again as the Giants built a 6-2, sixth-inning lead in the second game. The belt had seven RBIs in the doubleheader, shortened to seven-inning games under pandemic rules.

“It feels pretty good,” said Belt, who joined Willie Mays as the only San Francisco Giants player to homer in the first inning of successive games on the same day. “It would have been better if we pulled off two wins today, but we can make it all right by winning tomorrow.” Pinch-hitter Alan Trejo singled off Jake McGee with one out in the seventh, Garrett Hampson with two outs, and Trevor Story’s two-run double cut the deficit to 6-4.

Ryan McMahon hit an RBI single, Doval (0-1) relieved, and C.J. Cron fouled off a 2-2 pitch, worked the count complete, and blooped a single to the right. Blackmon hit his second homer of the season, driving a full-count slider into the right-field seats for his fourth game-ending home run.

Blackmon

“It looked like we were in dire straits, but we strung at-bats together,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “I told the guys that’s the secret, to bear down and play all 27 outs on both sides, and we did that tonight.” In the second game, Ben Bowden (1-2) got his first big league win with 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Wilmer Flores and Cron had two-run homers.

A belt connected for his slam in the first game on the sixth pitch after Jhoulys Chacín relieved starter German Márquez, a 452-foot drive for his third career slam. Buster Posey went deep four pitches later. Márquez (1-3) allowed eight runs and six hits in two-thirds of an inning, an outing that raised his ERA from 4.13 to 6.21. He has lost to the Giants three times this season.

Colorado allowed double-digit runs in an inning for the seventh time.

Brandon Crawford added a two-run homer in the sixth against Lucas Gilbreath as the Giants romped in the makeup of Monday night’s rainout. Belt and Posey finished with three hits each. Posey reached seven home runs in just 19 games played this season. “It was nice to have that cushion, but I don’t think at any point did we feel comfortable to take our foot off the gas,” Giant’s manager Gabe Kapler said. “I thought Craw’s homer was as important as any big hit we had in the first inning.”

Tauchman, acquired from the New York Yankees last week, hit leadoff for the Giants for the first time and scored twice, doubling starting the game and later walking. Matt Wisler (1-2) retired Colorado’s final five batters. And Giants starter Aaron Sanchez allowed four runs and seven hits in four innings, including Raimel Tapia’s fourth-inning grand slam, the third of his extensive league career.

San Francisco sent 13 men to the plate and had eight hits in the first, its biggest inning since scoring ten runs in the fourth of an 11-6 win over Pittsburgh on Sept. 7, 2008. It was the fifth time the Giants scored double digits in the first inning, the first since an 11-run frame against St. Louis on June 29, 1967.

“You’ve got to give credit to the Giants,” Marquez said through an interpreter. “They’re a good-hitting team. I also didn’t command the ball, and they took advantage of that.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Giants: RHP Kevin Gausman was placed on the injured list after receiving a COVID-19 vaccination and experiencing symptoms. The team’s medical staff anticipated the after-effects would clear up in a day or two. … C Joey Bart was recalled from the alternate training site. … INF Tommy LaStella went on the 10-day IL, retroactive to Monday, because of a left hamstring strain. Manager Gabe Kapler estimated LaStella could be sidelined for up to six weeks. … INF Jason Vosler was recalled from the team’s alternate site.

UP NEXT

Giants RHP Logan Webb (1-2, 4.13 ERA) is slated to start Wednesday’s series finale against Colorado RHP Jon Gray (3-2, 3.15 ERA).

Sign up for Daily Newsletters

Copyright © 2021 The Washington Times, LLC.

Molly Aronson

I'm an award-winning blogger who enjoys all things creative but is especially passionate about lifestyle design. I blog over at mehlogy.com I love that I get to share my passion for healthy living, fashion, fitness, and travel with readers from all over the world.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button