The Colorado Rockies failed to pick up a series victory on Sunday by falling to the San Francisco Giants, 9-6. Hunter Pence's three-run home run -- his first long shot since moving to the Giants -- broke a 6-6 tie in the bottom of the eighth inning.
The game didn't start off well for the Rockies, as Alex White (ND, 5.82 ERA) allowed three runs on a Melky Cabrera two-run single and a Brandon Belt RBI single. However, White didn't allow any more runs after that. He just started to pile up the pitches thrown, which left him out of the game after 82 pitches in four innings of work.
The Rockies tied the game by the fourth inning on back-to-back RBI doubles in the third inning and an Alex White sacrifice fly in the fourth. After Carlos Torres allowed a run in the fifth inning, the Rockies answered back in the sixth with a DJ LeMahieu RBI double and a Torres single to plate LeMahieu. Jordan Pacheco's sac fly in the seventh had the Rockies in a 6-4 lead.
Then came the bottom of the eighth, which started with Matt Belisle (3-4, 3.34 ERA) on the mound. He loaded the bases on a single, a ground rule double and a walk. After an infield single scored a run, closer Rafael Betancourt entered the game. He blew the save on a Buster Posey sac fly and then served up to Hunter Pence the gopher ball that put the Giants ahead, 9-6.
Two Giants pitchers sent the Rockies down 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth. Clay Hensley picked up the win while starter Barry Zito allowed four runs in 5.1 innings.
The Rockies (41-71, 20-34 away) host the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday to start a three-game series.
For more on these teams, check out Rockies blog Purple Row and Giants blog McCovey Chronicles. Head over to Baseball Nation for more news and notes around the league.
