GRAY SAVORS STARRING ROLE

Giants LHP Madison Bumgarner (6-2, 2.17 ERA) at Rockies RHP Eddie Butler (2-2, 3.58), 2:10 p.m. Saturday, ROOT, 850 AM Walt Weiss navigated an out-ofwhack pitching rotation that got sideways in Pittsburgh by deciding Friday on Butler for Saturday’s start. Both Butler and Chris Rusin were used in longrelief during a Butler nine-game road

trip, but they’re back now as starters. First up: Butler. The right-hander is much improved this season with a sinker and slider mix that keeps him from losing control of atbats. “He’s got that heavy sink back to it,” Weiss said. “It’s hard and heavy. And he has a better feel for his slider. It’s become an out pitch for him. Those are his two big weapons.” Sunday: Giants RHP Johnny Cueto (7-1, 2.38) at Rockies LHP Chris Rusin (1-2, 3.93), 2:10 p.m., ROOT Monday: Reds RHP Daniel Wright (0-1, 5.06) at Rockies RHP Chad Bettis (4-3, 4.90), 2:10 p.m., ROOT Tuesday: Reds RHP Dan Straily (2-2, 2.98) at Rockies RHP Jon Gray (2-2, 5.95), 6:40 p.m., ROOT Jon Gray washed away a rush of oncoming trouble. The Rockies returned home early Friday morning after an overnight flight from Boston on a win streak — just one game, sure, but it was heavy.

“He derailed a runaway train in Boston,” Colorado manager Walt Weiss said. “It was big stuff. We needed it.”

The Rockies’ rookie righthander won his first career road game Thursday at a prime time, in Boston against the red-hot Red Sox, pitching 7L innings in an 8-2 victory. He stopped a three-game slide and a 1-6 stretch. And he did it after falling behind 2-0 on a David Ortiz home run in the first inning.

“That team is playing extremely well,” Weiss said of the