The Colorado Rockies defeated the San Francisco Giants Friday night at Coors Field 5-4 in the first game of a three-game set.
Scott Oberg locked down the game in the ninth inning for his fourth save of the season, and it was his first as the team’s closer.
Ahead are takeaways from the victory:
One last dance for Bochy
San Francisco Giants’ Skipper Bruce Bochy was honored prior to Friday’s game as the current series will be his last as a manager at Coors Field. Bochy is set to retire from managing after the completion of the season.
Bochy has managed over 200 games at 20th and Blake from the visitor’s dugout, running both the Giants and San Diego Padres throughout his career, which is more than twice as many games than any other opposing manager.
Bochy has made over 600 career pitching changes at Coors field, averaging well over three per game.
Bochy’s lifetime record at Coors Field is currently at 91-117.
Colorado honored the skipper by presenting him with a Giants’ scoreboard plaque that was signed by all of the Rockies’ players.
Congratulations on an amazing career, @BruceBochy! pic.twitter.com/15GAzsIS3K
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) August 3, 2019
Dahl leaves with injury, sparks offense
David Dahl has been one of the bright spots in what has otherwise been a down season for the Rockies in 2019.
Dahl entered the Rockies’ series versus the Giants, boasting a .302 batting average with 61 runs. Dahl was named to his first All-Star team in 2019 and has been a critical contributor in the middle of the Rockies’ lineup.
Unfortunately, tragedy struck in the sixth inning. Dahl was playing a fly ball to center field, and as he was going to make the catch, he slipped underneath himself and wound up on the ground, grabbing his right leg in agony.
Dahl was unable to stand up under his own power and wound up getting carted off the field.
There has been no indication in regards to the severity of the injury; however, Dahl appeared to be in an excruciating amount of pain as he was departing the field.
The injury sparked life within the Rockies lineup.
Dahl departed with the Rockies down by a pair of runs, but Ryan McMahon quickly tied things up by cranking a two-run home run to center field to tie the game at four runs apiece.
Tie game courtesy of a #RyMacJack 💥 pic.twitter.com/zdZ7ftdQ80
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) August 3, 2019
Outfielder Ian Desmond, who entered the game after Dahl departed with injury, was able to break a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the seventh inning by ripping an RBI double off the wall in center field to provide Colorado with a 5-4 lead.
Rockies go long to center field
The Rockies have a knack for hitting home runs, and the team’s power stroke was on display at Coors Field Friday night.
A majority of the Rockies’ runs came via home runs or balls that just narrowly missed getting over the wall.
Trevor Story delivered the first home run of the evening for the Rockies, a towering shot to center field to put the Rockies ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the third inning.
"I think it's #StoryTime 📚"
Yes, it is Spilly. Yes. It. Is. pic.twitter.com/0jxVEB5HY2
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) August 3, 2019
Story’s home run was timely as he has struggled as of late, logging just one hit in the Rockies’ previous series versus the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Giants managed to battle back to establish a 4-2 lead, but infielder Ryan McMahon was able to barrel a ball over the fence in center field to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth inning.
McMahon has been one of the Rockies’ best hitters since the All-Star break, driving home a team-leading 17 RBIs while batting .419 in his last 10 games. Additionally, the youngster has hit safely in eight of his previous 10 games.
Lambert holds his own
22-year-old pitcher Peter Lambert made his 10th career start for the Rockies versus San Francisco. Since winning his first two games, the Rockies had lost his previous seven starts entering Friday’s game.
Lambert was sharp out of the gate, working three scoreless innings to open up the ballgame. The Giants plated four runs against Lambert in the fourth and fifth innings, but he rallied to hurl a scoreless sixth frame.
Lambert was not sensational but pitched well enough to keep the Rockies within striking distance.
Lambert departed after six innings pitched, allowing four runs on six hits while striking out five batters.