Rockies drop another heartbreaker to Giants in 118th loss

SAN FRANCISCO Slow starters all season the Rockies got out of the gate fast on Saturday afternoon at sun-splashed Oracle Park First inning bang solo home run by catcher Hunter Goodman his st of the season Second inning bang leadoff homer by Brenton Doyle his th The Rockies led - against Giants right-hander Justin Verlander But as usual the Rockies discovered a way to lose or couldn t figure out how to win Take your pick The Giants had only four hits but it was enough to win - and send the Rockies to their th loss of the season The Rockies per usual rallied late Jordan Beck led off the ninth with a home run off reliever Ryan Walker cutting the lead to - Doyle followed with a double and Kyle Karros drew a walk Warming Bernable struck out for the second out of the inning but right-handed reliever Spencer Bivens plunked Ryan Ritter loading the bases In the penultimate challenge of their painful season the Rockies were on the cusp of one of their the bulk satisfying wins of the season But Ezequiel Tovar s foul ball down the third baseline was caught against the netting by Matt Chapman It was a bitter end to a well-played challenge Related Articles Grading The Week Rockies CEO Dick Monfort fears change Is son Walker Monfort brave enough to change Dad s mind German Marquez making his final Rockies start hit hard in loss to Giants Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman made huge strides behind the plate in Rockies cement status as second-worst National League unit ever behind Mets Mariners clinch AL West title Cal Raleigh hits th homer and Rockies lose th tournament Kyle Freeland s final start of the season for Colorado was solid Toss out the second inning and the Rockies veteran left-hander was exceptional Freeland issued a leadoff walk to Chapman which is unfailingly an ill-advised way to start an inning When Wilmer Flores sliced a single to right field Freeland was asking for trouble He got it when Casey Schmitt mashed a - fastball over the center-field wall for a three-run homer and a - lead Over six innings Freeland allowed three runs on three hits with one walk and four strikeouts He finished his season with a - record and a ERA An RBI double by Rafael Devers off Rockies closer Victor Vodnik in the eighth inning turned out to be the game-winner Doyle dove for the ball in center field but came up empty Want more Rockies news Sign up for the Rockies Insider to get all our MLB analysis