Moore, Giants too strong for Rockies
SAN FRANCISCO -- Left-hander Matt Moore blanked the Colorado Rockies on six hits over six-plus innings Wednesday afternoon, leading the San Francisco Giants to a 4-0 victory over the National League playoff contender.
Joe Panik stroked a single, double and triple, Pablo Sandoval laced a pair of doubles and Brandon Crawford added a solo home run for the Giants, who completed a two-game sweep that gave them five straight home wins over the Rockies.
Colorado (82-70) temporarily dropped within a half-game of the Milwaukee Brewers (81-70) in the race for the National League's second wild card. The Brewers were scheduled to start a road game at Pittsburgh about a half-hour after the Rockies' loss to the Giants ended.
Moore, who entered the game with the second-highest ERA in the majors, cruised to just his second career win over the Rockies.
Staked to early 1-0 and 3-0 leads, Moore allowed only two baserunners to reach scoring position until giving up back-to-back singles to Mark Reynolds and Jonathan Lucroy leading off the seventh.
With the potential tying run coming to the plate in pinch-hitter Pat Valaika, Giants manager Bruce Bochy pulled Moore and went with left-hander Steven Okert.
Okert struck out Valaika and got Charlie Blackmon on a ground ball before giving way to right-hander Cory Gearrin, who fanned DJ LeMahieu with runners at first and third and retain the 3-0 advantage.
The Giants added a fourth run against the Colorado bullpen in the last of the seventh. Panik singled home Hunter Pence, who had walked and advanced on Mike Dunn's wild pitch.
Moore (6-14) successfully avoided becoming the NL's first 15-game loser. He walked two and struck out seven.
Four Giants relievers combined for three innings of hitless ball to complete the club's fourth shutout of the season.
Panik scored the Giants' first two runs off Rockies starter Tyler Chatwood. He tripled and jogged home on a Denard Span sacrifice fly in the first, then doubled and scored on a Buster Posey sacrifice fly in the third.
Crawford's homer came after Posey's fly ball had cleared the bases with two outs in the third. It was his 14th of the season and raised his RBI total to a team-best 72.
Chatwood (8-13) allowed three runs and five hits in six innings. He walked two and struck out four.
Chatwood lost to San Francisco for the first time in his last eight starts.
Five of the Giants' seven hits in the game went for extra bases. They out-hit the Rockies 7-6.
Catcher Jonathan Lucroy had three of Colorado's six hits, all singles.
Despite the two-game sweep, the Rockies still won the season series San Francisco 12-7.
NOTES: The Giants disclosed Wednesday that they have sent general manager Bobby Evans to Japan to scout RHP Shohei Otani, a 23-year-old pitching prospect who is expected to be posted by his current club, the Nippon Ham Fighters, this offseason. ... San Francisco claimed RHP Pierce Johnson off waivers from the Chicago Cubs. To make room for the 26-year-old, a former first-round draft pick, on their 40-man roster, the Giants transferred 1B Brandon Belt (concussion) to the 60-day disabled list. ... The Rockies announced Wednesday that the installation of a new scoreboard at Coors Field will take place this winter. It is expected to be up and running by next season's opener.