Giants at Rockies
The Colorado Rockies have managed to climb atop the National League West standings despite not playing particularly well at Coors Field, but may be on the verge of changing that given their success almost halfway through their nine-game homestand. The Rockies set their sights on their fourth win in five tries Tuesday when they continue a three-game set with the San Francisco Giants.
Colorado entered last weekend with a 7-11 record in Denver this season before taking two of three from Cincinnati to secure only its second series win at home in 2018. The Rockies got off to a good start in nailing down a third such victory Monday when Chris Iannetta singled home the winning run in the 10th inning in a 6-5 triumph for his eighth career walk-off RBI and first since May 11, 2016. The Giants had a winning record as recently as May 15, but have dropped eight of 11 since to fall back into fourth place in the West for the first time since April 25. San Francisco got some good news in Monday's series opener, however, as Buster Posey singled in his return to the lineup after a two-game absence and scored a run.
TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco), AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Jeff Samardzija (1-3, 6.23 ERA) vs. Rockies LH Kyle Freeland (4-5, 3.28)
Samardzija fell to 0-3 over his last six turns Wednesday at Houston, surrendering four runs (three earned) on four hits and a season-high five walks across 4 2/3 innings. The Notre Dame product has produced only one quality start in seven trips to the mound this season, only working more than five frames twice. Nolan Arenado is 13-for-32 and Ian Desmond is 10-for-26 with two homers against Samardzija, who is 4-5 with a 3.84 ERA in 16 appearances (12 starts) versus the Rockies.
Freeland recorded his sixth consecutive quality start Wednesday in Los Angeles, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks over 6 1/3 frames in a loss to the Dodgers. The 25-year-old Denver native has yielded three runs or fewer in eight of his last nine outings and is 2-1 with a 1.40 ERA in three turns at Coors Field this season. Gorkys Hernandez is 6-for-12 with a homer against Freeland, who beat San Francisco on May 18 with 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Rockies posted 11 hits Monday and have at least that many in three straight contests.
2. The Giants fell to 23-5 in games in which they score four or more runs.
3. After entering Monday 15-for-15 in stolen base attempts this month, Colorado went 2-for-3 in the opener after Charlie Blackmon was thrown out in the seventh inning.