Giants at Rockies
A pair of left-handers 27 years apart in age will square off when the Colorado Rockies host the San Francisco Giants on Thursday afternoon in the rubber match of the three-game series. Colorado’s Jamie Moyer had three-plus major league seasons under his belt before San Francisco’s Madison Bumgarner was born Aug. 1, 1989. Moyer, who turns 50 on Nov. 18, will try again to become the oldest pitcher in major league history to win a game. The Giants hope Bumgarner can go deep into the contest after five relievers were used in Colorado’s 17-8 victory Wednesday. San Francisco is prepared for such a scenario, though, with eight relievers on its roster.
The Rockies had scored five runs during the three-game losing streak that preceded Wednesday’s explosion. While scoring isn’t expected to be a problem in Colorado this year, pitching remains a question mark. Jeremy Guthrie did not provide any answers after allowing six runs in the fourth inning Wednesday after being staked to a 6-0 lead.
TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, CS Bay Area (San Francisco), ROOT Sports (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (0-1, 9.00 ERA) vs. Rockies LH Jamie Moyer (0-1, 5.40 ERA)
Bumgarner was touched for four runs and seven hits in four innings Saturday in the Giants’ 5-4 loss at Arizona. Bumgarner is 2-3 with a 2.05 ERA lifetime against Colorado and current Rockies are batting .313 (31-for-99) against him. Carlos Gonzalez (5-for-14, two homers, four RBIs) has been Bumgarner’s toughest out.
Moyer allowed four runs (three earned) and five hits in five innings Saturday in Colorado’s 7-3 loss at Houston. Moyer is 4-7 with a 3.52 ERA in his career against San Francisco. Current Giants are hitting .320 against Moyer (24-for-75), with Aubrey Huff (9-for-23, three homers, six RBIs) especially tough on him.
WALK-OFFS
1. Gonzalez went 3-for-4 on Wednesday after starting the season 3-for-17. He also knocked in four runs and scored four more.
2. San Francisco’s Buster Posey, who is battling a case of the shingles, flied out in a pinch-hitting role Wednesday in his first action since Sunday. He is a .329 lifetime hitter against Colorado.
3. Brooklyn Dodgers right-hander Jack Quinn was 49 years, 74 days old when he defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 6-5 on Sept. 13, 1932.