Rockies stun Giants with homer in 9th

SAN FRANCISCO – Brandon Barnes isn’t a classic power hitter. In fact, neither of the Colorado right fielder’s two home runs this season even left the park.

They did help the Rockies to victories, however, and for that Barnes isn’t making any apologies.

Barnes hit a two-run, inside-the-park home run in the ninth inning and Colorado rallied for the second straight day to stun the San Francisco Giants 5-4 on Saturday.

“I’d really like to hit one out so I can jog around the bases to make it easier,” said Barnes, who hit his first inside-the-park home run against Arizona on June 5. “I always seem to make it hard on myself. I hit the ball and I’m going to run hard until something stops me.”

Charlie Blackmon singled with two outs off Giants closer Sergio Romo (3-3) before Barnes lined a hit to center field. San Francisco’s Angel Pagan misplayed the ball and it skipped to the fence as Blackmon and Barnes raced around the bases.

Barnes, who had a walkoff triple to beat the Dodgers on June 7, had flown out to center in three consecutive atbats before helping Colorado extend its winning streak to four games.

“My father made the trip up from Anaheim for Fathers’ day tomorrow and my step-mom and sister were here,” Barnes said. “It’s special to play in front of them, especially like a day like today.”

It’s the second consecutive blown save and fourth this season for Romo, who gave up five runs in the ninth inning of Friday’s 7-4 loss to Colorado.

“I don’t feel like I could have done much more there,” Romo said. “I had two outs, one pitch away again ... and they found a way to stay alive. They got me again. What can I do?”

Buster Posey’s sacrifice fly in the seventh inning had given the Giants a 4-3 lead. Posey also doubled and homered to finish with a season-high three RBIs - the most by San Francisco’s two-time All-Star in more than 11 months.

Hunter Pence hit his ninth home run of the year while Gregor Blanco had three hits for San Francisco.

It wasn’t enough to prevent the Giants’ fifth loss in six games.

AP PHOTO COLORADO ROCKIES’ Brandon Barnes slides home with a tworun inside-the-park home run off of San Francisco Giants pitcher Sergio Romo during the ninth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Saturday. The Rockies won 5-4.