The Colorado Rockies defeated the San Francisco Giants in walk-off fashion, 6-5 Monday night at Coors Field.
The Rockies got out to yet another poor start, a trend that has followed the team since the start of their current nine-game homestand. A weather delay that pushed the start of the game might have affected starting pitcher Chad Bettis, who struggled out of the gate, surrendering two runs and three hits in the first inning. Giants slugger Evan Longoria ripped a 2-RBI double on a 1-2 fastball to deep left field to score the first runs of the game and give San Francisco a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
The Rockies answered in the bottom of the first inning by scoring three runs off the bat of Trevor Story, who blasted a three-run home run to put Colorado out in front 3-2.
Bettis buckled down in the second inning but surrendered a solo home run to Gorkys Hernández in the third inning which tied the game at 3 runs apiece.
The Rockies again answered in the bottom of the third inning, as Story reached base on a throwing error committed by Evan Longoria. Carlos Gonzalez followed that with a single. With two runners on, Ian Desmond singled on a 3-1 fastball to center field, scoring Story and Gonzalez, and putting the Rockies back on top, 4-3.
Both teams went down quietly in the fourth and fifth innings, but the Giants once again took the lead in the sixth inning. Brandon Belt started things off with a single before Longoria whacked another double to deep center, scoring Belt and tying the game at 4-4. Pablo Sandoval drove home another run later in the inning on an RBI single to left field to put the Giants back on top, 5-4.
The Rockies managed to get runners on base in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings but failed to bring home any runs.
The game was tied entering in the ninth inning, with the Giants loading the bases at one point; however, closer Wade Davis was able to prevent San Fransisco from scoring a run, which sent the game to extra innings.
Relief pitcher Bryan Shaw worked a bumpy-but-clean 10th inning to set the Rockies up with an opportunity to win the ballgame via walk-off. Nolan Arenado was walked to start the inning and then advanced to second on a fly ball hit by Story. Gonzalez then reached base and Desmond proceeded to load the bases with a single to right field, setting the table for catcher Chris Iannetta.
After the first pitch of his at-bat was called a strike, Iannetta smacked a single up the middle to bring home Arenado and claim the victory for the Rockies, ending Memorial Day on a happy note.
The Rockies and Giants will continue their series Tuesday at Coors Field, with first pitch set for 6:40 MST.
