Colorado Rockies ride big fifth inning to 11-6 win over the San Francisco Giants

After splitting the first two of a three-game series, the Colorado Rockies won another high scoring affair on Thursday afternoon, 11-6, to take the first series of the young season from the San Francisco Giants. Gerardo Parra had two hits, one of which was his first home run of the season, and Mark Reynolds drove in three runs with a pair of doubles.

Rockies' starting pitcher Jorge De La Rosa got back on track after two rough outings to begin the year, allowing four runs (three earned) on just four hits in 6⅔ innings. He walked only one and struck out seven on the way to his first win of the season and franchise best 79th in a Rockies uniform.

Things were going pretty well for the Giants after the first four innings. They led the game, 1-0, and starting pitcher Matt Cain had allowed just one hit -- a bloop single to De La Rosa. Unfortunately for the Giants, baseball games last longer than four innings. After the fourth inning, the fifth inning happened. That's where things got ugly.

Parra led off with a home run to tie the game at 1-1. Four batters later, De La Rosa drove in two on a single to right center that scored Reynolds and catcher Tony Wolters. After DJ LeMahieu doubled and Carlos Gonzalez walked, Chris Heston replaced Giants' starter Matt Cain and it made literally no difference.

The Rockies continued to pour it on as Nolan Arenado doubled home De La Rosa and LeMahieu, Reynolds drove in three more with a bases loaded double (his second of the inning), and Ben Paulsen singled home Reynolds. In case you've lost count, that made the score 9-1, Rockies.

This is the Rockies, though, so nothing is ever easy. San Francisco got three runs back in the seventh on doubles from Matt Duffy and Ehire Adrianza and another Span bloop single but fortunately Justin Miller induced a ground ball to Arenado with the bases loaded and Buster Posey at the plate to escape the inning with no further damage.

The drama carried over into the eighth inning as reliever Chad Qualls served up a 2-run home run off the bat of Belt cut the Rockies' lead to 9-6.

It was starting to feel like a game the Rockies would find a way to lose, but that was not the case today. Gonzalez tacked on some insurance with a 2-run double in the eighth that brought home LeMahieu and Trevor Story to give the Rockies up, 11-6.

Boone Logan worked around a 2-out walk to throw a scoreless ninth and close out the win for the Rockies, who improved to 5-4 on the season with the win. The Giants dropped to 6-4 on the year.

Tomorrow afternoon the Rockies will travel to Chicago to take on the Cubs. Chad Bettis takes the hill against Kyle Hendricks in the first of three straight afternoon games.