Rockies swept aside by Giants
Gray returns from injured list
Giants rally Wednesday afternoon to sweep three-game series from Rockies,
DENVER — Jon Gray looked nearly untouchable Wednesday afternoon to start his first Rockies game back from the injured list.
The right-hander kept the Giants scoreless over five innings, struck out eight and drove in Colorado’s first run. But he got knocked from the game in the sixth and the Rockies predictably folded in a 7-4 defeat, allowing four runs in the ninth.
“(Gray) had solid velocity throughout the game. He held his stuff. … The mix was there. Five scoreless innings. He held them down and had some punchouts. I thought he threw the ball great,” manager Bud Black said. “Take away the first three or four batters in the ninth and I thought we pitched outstanding.”
Closer Carlos Estevez blew the game in the ninth.
The Rockies led 4-3 when he loaded the bases with no outs. San Francisco’s Lamonte Wade Jr. put the Giants ahead with a soft two-run RBI single to right. Soon after pinch-hitter Evan Longoria put the game away with a two-run double for a major-league-leading 90th victory.
It marks the first time the typically hot-at-home Rockies have been swept at Coors Field this season. Colorado (63-77) — with four consecutive losses — now embark on an 11-day, 10game road trip at the Phillies, Braves and Nationals.
Catcher Elias Diaz homered in the sixth to put the Rockies up 4-3, his 16th blast of the year, soon after Gray was pulled.
Black pulled Gray with no outs after consecutive singles were followed by a three-run home run from Giants’ shortstop Brandon Crawford, tying the game 3-3.
But Gray reflected positively on the start. He threw strikes on 61 of 87 pitches.
“I felt really strong today. I didn’t feel like I let up on any pitches,” Gray said. “I felt like it was good to go. I had good results.”
Gray’s bat struck first to end the scoreless stalemate with an RBI single off San Francisco starter Anthony Desclafani in the fifth.