DENVER — In a span of about five minutes Thursday night, the Giants lost the two players who have been their most consistent hitters. They also lost the game, but not before proving that they haven’t given up the fight.
The Giants wiped out an eight-run deficit in the final three innings — mostly without Buster Posey and Eduardo Nuñez, who left with leg injuries — but ultimately fell 10-9 to the Rockies. Raimel Tapia hit a walk-off single off Hunter Strickland in the bottom of the ninth.
Matt Moore gave up eight runs in three innings, but the bullpen held it together and the lineup chipped away late. The Giants scored two in the seventh and five in the eighth. In the ninth, Gorkys Hernandez’s fly to center was just deep enough to score Austin Slater and hand Greg Holland his first blown save in 24 tries.
Here are five things to know from a wild but painful night at Coors Field …
--- Nuñez called for a trainer after a single and Posey was pulled after his ninth homer of the year. Here’s exactly what happened. More to come, obviously.
--- Austin Slater has been one of the few brights spots in recent weeks. The rookie had four singles, raising his average to .405 in 10 games. It’s super early, but Slater certainly has shown the ability to handle the bat, and he looks worthy of a long, long audition in left field.
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When Posey and Nuñez got hurt, Slater made his professional debut at third base. Aaron Hill and Kelby Tomlinson had already been used as pinch-hitters. He recorded the second out of the bottom of the seventh.
--- Brandon Crawford’s homer with two outs in the eighth was the first three-run homer of the year for the Giants. This was their 68th game.
--- Ty Blach pinch-hit for Josh Osich in the eighth because the Giants were out of position players. The kid lined an RBI single up the middle. He really is a Mini Bumgarner.
--- Matt Moore at home: 3.07 ERA. Matt Moore on the road: 9.24 ERA.
