Belt slam in 10-run 1st lifts Giants over Rockies in opener

DENVER (AP) — Brandon Belt hit a go-ahead single and a grand slam in a 10-run first inning that propelled the San Francisco Giants over the Colorado Rockies 12-4 Tuesday in a doubleheader opener.

Belt connected for his home run on the sixth pitch after Jhoulys Chacín relieved starter German Márquez, a 452-foot drive for his third career slam. Posey went deep four pitches later.

Márquez (1-3) allowed eight runs and six hits in two-third 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 and dropped to 1-6 against the Giants this year.

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,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. “I thought Craw’s homer was as important as any big hit that we had in the first inning.”

Mike Tauchman, acquired from the New York Yankees last week, hit leadoff for the Giants for the first time and scored twice in the first, doubling starting the game and later walking.

Matt Wisler ( 1- 2) retired Colorado’s final five batters, 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 big league career.