Rockies 11, Giants 3
DENVER -- Carlos Gonzalez continued his home run barrage Thursday night as the Colorado Rockies beat the fading San Francisco Giants 11-3.
Gonzalez hit a two-run homer in the Rockies' four-run first and belted another two-run shot in the four-run run as Colorado strafed starter Ryan Vogelsong.
Chris Rusin threw his second complete game in four starts and just the third for Colorado this season. He is the first Rockies pitcher to throw two complete games in a season since Ubaldo Jimenez in 2010 and the first to throw two complete games at Coors Field in one season since Aaron Cook in 2008.
The loss was the sixth straight and ninth in 12 games for the Giants, who were swept in three games at Dodger Stadium to begin their current 10-game road trip. The Rockies, who banged out a season-high 19 hits, are 4-2 in their past six games, their best stretch since the All-Star break.
Gonzalez tied franchise records for the most home runs (four) and RBIs (11) in consecutive games. He struck out in the sixth after five consecutive at-bats with an extra-base hit, one short of the franchise record set by Larry Walker in 1996.
Gonzalez, whose output also included a double while going 4-for-5, is the first player to hit multiple home runs in consecutive games since Jason Giambi in 2005 with the New York Yankees, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Gonzalez took over the National League lead with 35 home runs, one more than teammate Nolan Arenado. The Rockies third baseman hit his 34th off Cody Hall, who made his major league debut, after Gonzalez singled with two outs in the eighth. Arenado homered in a career-high fourth consecutive game.
Rusin (5-7), who shut out San Diego at Coors Field on five hits Aug. 16, threw 103 pitches Thursday, 69 strikes. He yielded Vogelsong's first homer, a two-run shot in the third when the Giants collected four of their six hits, but got 15 outs on ground balls. He got third baseman Matt Duffy to ground into two double plays.
Vogelsong gave up a career-high tying 11 hits and eight runs, seven earned, and left after the Rockies opened the fourth with three consecutive hits. George Kontos relieved Vogelsong and promptly yielded Gonzalez's second two-run homer, which boosted the Rockies' lead to 9-2.
Vogelsong (9-11) made his seventh career start at Coors Field, where he is 3-4 with an 8.44 ERA. He has lost his past three starts overall, allowing 25 hits and 15 runs, 14 earned, in 11 innings for an 11.45 ERA.
His homer, a two-run shot, came in the third after left fielder Juan Perez opened the inning with a double. Vogelsong has played in parts of 11 big league seasons had 290 career at-bats before he homered to cut the Rockies' lead to 4-2.
Vogelsong is the oldest player in franchise history -- 38 years, 43 days -- at the time of his first home run, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
NOTES: Giants RHP Tim Lincecum underwent surgery in Vail, Colo., on his left hip. He is facing about a five-month rehab but should be able to pitch in the big leagues in 2016, Giants trainer Dave Groescher said. ... Rockies RHP Tyler Chatwood (elbow) will make his second rehab start Monday for Class A Modesto. He will not pitch for Colorado this season. ... Rockies OF Corey Dickerson (broken right ribs) began a rehab assignment Wednesday with Triple-A Albuquerque, going 1-for-4 as the designated hitter. He could be activated early next week. ... Giants SS Brandon Crawford (Calf) missed his third game in a row. ... San Francisco 2B Joe Panik (back) began a three-game rehab assignment at Triple-A Sacramento.