In a low scoring affair, not atypical for Oracle Park, the Rockies battled back from a two-run deficit to beat the Giants 3-2 and sweep the three game series. Garrett Hampson came up huge in the top of the fifth driving a ball into left-center field for an inside-the-park home run. Five innings of shutout pitching by the bullpen secured the win and put the Rockies into a tie for first place in the NL West in the young simulated season.
Short outing for Senzatela
Antonio Senzatela pitched well, never giving up any big hits, but only lasted four innings. Soft contact plated two runs early for the Giants with singles off the bats of Kevin Gausman and Wilmer Flores to go up 2-0. Senzatela settled down afterwards and followed with 1-2-3 innings in the third and fourth to keep the game in check. His final line on the day was 4 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 4 K.
Three runs were good enough
There were not a lot of big hits in this game (three extra-base hits between the two teams), but the Sim Rockies strung a few together in the fifth inning including Hampson’s home run to score three, which was all they would need. Pablo Sandoval helped out by booting a grounder off the bat of Charlie Blackmon to keep the inning alive. Sim Bud Black chose to put his faith in the bullpen and he was wise to do so as the combination of Jeff Hoffman, Jake McGee, Carlos Estevez, James Pazos, Jairo Diaz, and Scott Oberg (count ‘em: six different relief pitchers) kept the Giants off the scoreboard in the middle and late innings.
Huge outfield assist by Dahl
In close games like these, every play counts, and David Dahl came up with an enormous defensive gem to kill a Giants rally in the Bottom of 7th. With Buster Posey in scoring position at second base, Hunter Pence (RBI leader in the Sim NL) hit a single up the middle. Posey got the green light from the third base coach but was gunned down by Dahl in centerfield for the third and final out of the inning.
Game Video
Up Next
The Rockies will head home to take on the Milwaukee Brewers in a three game series at Coors Field. Game 1 starts tomorrow at 6:45 MT with Kyle Freeland (1-0, 0.54 ERA) taking on Brandon Woodruff (0-2, 4.50 ERA).