This one was a clunker from the get-go. Jhoulys Chacin was again tolerable but mediocre, as he worked 5.2 innings and allowed three runs. His fastball still sits 87 mph and doesn't get much deception. He struck out four while walking two and allowed two solo home runs. Those three runs, along with further damage against some relievers, led to an uninspiring 5-1 loss.
Still, allowing five runs at Coors Field ought to give the home team a pretty good chance of having a fighting shot, except the bats were inexplicably silent. Despite the fact that Giants starter Matt Cain exited after the third inning with a hamstring injury, the Rockies just couldn't get anything going. Cain didn't allow a hit, and his successor, Yusmiero Petit, stifled the Rockies as well.
The only threat the Rockies mounted was in the 8th inning, when three straight singles loaded the bases with nobody out and Michael Cuddyer at the plate--with Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez to follow. The Rockies were down five at the time, but one could almost feel some Coors Field magic in the air...except Cuddyer grounded into a double play and killed the rally. One run scored. Game over, essentially.
Further exacerbating the bad vibes from this one, Cargo exited early due to a flare-up of his injured finger. This isn't the one that sabotaged his 2013, it's the one that he hurt earlier this year. Frankly, I don't know which is worse.
At the end of the day this was just a bummer all around. The Rockies still have an opportunity to win the series tomorrow and climb back to within two games of the Giants.
Source: FanGraphs