A sweep at altitude, a milehigh attitude
GIANTS 11, ROCKIES 8 After 4 wins in Denver, S.F. in midst of wild card with enthusiasm soaring
DENVER — Life for the Giants is so enchanted these days, even the little voices in their heads can’t make a wrong call.
The Giants were ready to send Mike Yastrzemski to the minors Saturday to get an extra pitcher. The rookie said his bags were almost packed. At the last minute, the honchos changed their minds, unsure how long Alex Dickerson’s back would keep him out.
The Giants sicced Yastrzemski on the Rockies, and he helped destroy them in a fourgame sweep at Coors Field that was as complete as it was unexpected. Including Wednesday’s 118 victory, the Giants outscored Colorado 4015.
They went 61 on the trip and Top: Rookie outfielder Mike Yastrzemski watches the flight of his fifthinning double. have scored 115 runs in taking 12 of their past 14 games. They also moved 21⁄2 games back of the second National League wildcard spot.
Yastrzemski was the only Giant to play all 38 innings in Denver and went 9for20 with three doubles, two homers, seven RBIs and six runs. And that was with an 0for4 in the nightcap of Monday’s doubleheader.
Manager Bruce Bochy rested Buster Posey on Wednesday, so Stephen Vogt had two hits, a homer and double. He rested Alex Dickerson, who had four hits Tuesday night, so Austin Slater banged a double off the wall in a firstinning rally that produced three runs against the Rockies’ best starter, Jon Gray.
Best of all for Bochy, he rested
sorekneed Brandon Crawford, who had 10 RBIs in the first three games, so Donovan Solano — “Donnie Baseball” to his teammates — had the biggest day.
Solano’s four hits included two doubles and a sixthinning homer that broke a 55 tie.
“For us to go out there on a hot day and contribute the way we did, that’s our job,” Vogt said. “This team is deep. This team is really good and we’re having fun.”
The Giants are rallying around one another (not that anybody needs it at the moment) and coming to work every day happy to be underdogs and make life interesting for the front office two weeks ahead of the trade deadline.
“It’s a lot of fun when everybody writes you off,” Vogt said. “Now it’s ‘How long is it going to last?’ That’s what everybody’s talking about. The attitude in here is ‘Let’s win today.’ ”
The Giants now face the one monster they have not been able to conquer — their own ballpark.
They are rolling on the road at 2723 but will lug a 2026 home record into Oracle Park on Thursday night, when Madison Bumgarner faces Noah Syndergaard in the first of four against the Mets, a rematch of a June 4 Giants win in New York.
The Giants are six under .500 at Oracle and 17 in their homestand openers, a perfect fit. Bucking that trend will be a challenge for the Giants facing a good pitcher with no days off after an exhausting seven games in Milwaukee and Denver.
To be fair, the Giants began to play better at home before the break, winning nine of their final 15 games. They had been 1120 on the shores of McCovey Cove.
“I see it getting better,” Bochy said. “It has to get better. This is a season where, if we played better at home, we’d be right in the middle of things.”
Their chances improve if they can keep pitching the way they did on a trip that will be remembered for the offense.
The six Giants who started the seven games allowed a combined 16 runs in 372⁄3 innings. But rookie Shaun Anderson, the only pitcher to start twice, allowed nine of the runs in 91⁄3 innings.
Bumgarner, Tyler Beede, Jeff Samardzija and Dereck Rodriguez combined for a 2.22 ERA in two parks built for bats.
Now, Bumgarner takes the mound to start a homestand that figures to draw well because the Mets and Cubs usually attract big crowds.
“We certainly feel good about how we’re playing,” Bochy said. “I hope (the fans) feel that way. I know they’ve gone through some tough stretches. Hopefully, they’re energized, like we are.”