The last thing the Colorado Rockies needed with their bullpen already stretched thin was an extra-innings game. Despite 6.2 strong innings from starter Jeff Hoffman, Rockies manager Bud Black was forced to use six relievers and Colorado could not hold on to a late lead, eventually falling 4-3 in 14 innings to the San Francisco Giants to stretch their season-long losing streak to seven games.
Chad Qualls (1-1, 5.40 ERA) took the loss as the seventh and final pitcher of the night for Colorado, allowing Gorkys Hernandez to score on a walk-off single by Denard Span in the bottom of the 14th, four hours and 45 minutes after the game began. Jake McGee had his third blown save and second in as many weeks, allowing an earned run to be charged to Scott Oberg in the eighth inning to tie the game at three.
Mark Reynolds had put Colorado up 3-1 in the top half of the sixth with a three-run home run off Giants starter Matt Cain. It was Reynolds’ 19th home run of the season. However, Jeff Hoffman issued a one-out walk to Buster Posey in the bottom half of the inning that would come back to haunt him after a Brandon Belt single and a Brandon Crawford sac fly. Hoffman allowed one other run in the game, Hernandez in the third, also on a Span single.
Chris Rusin pitched three innings of one-hit relief for Colorado. Mike Dunn and Greg Holland combined for two innings of no-hit relief before giving way to Qualls in the 14th. Cory Gearrin (2-2, 1.98) earned the win for San Francisco, pitching three innings and allowing zero runs.
The loss marks Colorado’s third consecutive series loss to a National League West opponent. Making matters worse, second baseman DJ LeMahieu left Tuesday’s game with a right groin cramp. There is little rest for the two weary squads, as they play the series finale at 1:45 p.m. MDT on Wednesday. Colorado natives will square off as Kyle Freeland (8-5 , 3.70 ERA) and Ty Blach (4-5 , 4.86 ERA) are on the mound for Colorado and San Francisco, respectively.
