Offense keeps Giants in 1st-place tie with Dodgers

SAN FRANCISCO — When Alex Wood took a tumble, the Giants began to stumble.

But thanks to an early cushion built by a patient offense and a steadying relief appearance from rookie Camilo Doval, the Giants remained on their feet and secured a series victory over the Rockies with a 7-3 win at Oracle Park on Wednesday.

Wood held the Rockies scoreless through six innings but took an awkward fall past third base and into foul territory during a puzzling stolen base attempt after reaching on a walk in the bottom of the sixth. The Giants lefty returned to the mound for the seventh and faced four Colorado batters but didn’t record an out as he issued a leadoff walk and gave up three softly-hit singles before manager Gabe Kapler called on Doval to escape a bases-loaded jam.

In the fifth game of his career, Doval induced a 46-3 double play and a groundout back to the pitcher to maintain a multi-run advantage and give the back end of the Giants bullpen some breathing room.

A Giants offense that scored two runs on basesloaded walks and two more on a Brandon Belt single in the first inning added three more runs in the bottom of the seventh with a disciplined approach that frustrated each Rockies pitcher.

Catcher Curt Casali walked with the bases loaded during both of the Giants’ rallies Wednesday while new center fielder Mike Tauchman had three hits, including one that led to a run in the seventh in his club debut.

A win helped the Giants, now 16-9 on the season, remain in a tie for first place with the Dodgers as they enter a significantly tougher portion of their schedule. From April 30-May 30, the Giants will play 28 games (20 on the road) including seven against the Dodgers and six against the Padres.