Rockies at Giants
San Francisco second baseman Joe Panik and right fielder Hunter Pence might return to action Friday when the Giants continue their four-game series against the visiting Colorado Rockies, but Vin Mazzaro likely will be unavailable. The beleaguered Giants reliever recorded one out while yielding nine runs (seven earned) in Thursday’s 17-7 loss as Colorado set a team record with 13 runs in the lengthy fifth inning.
The Giants don’t expect left fielder Angel Pagan (hamstring) to return this weekend, but Pence (back) and Panik (strained groin) hope to play Friday against the Rockies, who moved into a three-way tie atop the National League West with the Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers with Thursday’s victory. Panik reached base safely in 15 straight games before missing the past week for the Giants, who could use a strong outing from ace Madison Bumgarner after Matt Cain lasted just four innings in Thursday’s rout. Bumgarner might be advised to tread lightly around Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado, who continued his dominance of the Giants with his major-league leading 12th home run, three runs scored and three RBI in the series opener. Arenado homered six times at AT&T Park last season and is batting .307 with 17 home runs in 54 career games against the Giants.
TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, ROOT (Colorado), CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Chad Bettis (3-1, 3.89 ERA) vs. Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (3-2, 3.03)
Bettis turned in his fourth quality start of the season Sunday by allowing three runs with four strikeouts and no walks over six innings in a 6-3 win over Arizona. “He was pounding the strike zone all day,” manager Walt Weiss told reporters. “He did an outstanding job. He’s done that pretty much every time out.” Brandon Belt is 7-for-12 against Bettis, who is 2-3 with a 5.16 ERA in eight career appearances (four starts) against San Francisco.
Bumgarner earned his second straight victory Sunday as the 2014 World Series MVP struck out seven over six shutout innings against the Mets. The Giants are 14-8 in his starts against Colorado, including an 8-2 record at AT&T Park. Carlos Gonzalez is 16-for-46 with five home runs against Bumgarner, who is 11-6 with a 3.21 ERA in 22 career outings against the Rockies while limiting second baseman DJ LeMahieu to three hits in 22 at-bats.
WALK-OFFS
1. Colorado C Nick Hundley suffered an oblique strain before Thursday’s game and is listed as day-to-day.
2. The Giants are 12-6 in games started by Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija but 3-9 in games started by Jake Peavy and Matt Cain.
3. The Rockies have won three of the first four meetings against the Giants this season by a 40-26 margin.