DENVER -- It was 39 degrees at first pitch Thursday afternoon, with light snow falling at Coors Field for the first couple of innings.
Of the nine players in the starting lineup for the Giants, eight had their sleeves down on both arms, including starting pitcher Derek Holland, and four wore ski masks in some way. Evan Longoria had practically every inch of his skin covered by gear or a mask.
And then were was Tyler Austin, the former Minnesota Twin. Austin, starting at first base, had his right sleeve down but his left one cut short, with his jersey open at the top no signs that he was playing in one of the coldest games in franchise history.
"The first inning, I was like, what's happening," Austin said of the early snow.
The game was the third in franchise history that started with a temperature under 40 degrees, and the Rockies certainly looked to have home ice advantage early on. They took a 7-0 lead on Derek Holland in the first two innings, but once the snow drifted away, Austin got the Giants going.
He homered twice and drove in six runs, but it wasn't quite enough as the Giants fell 12-11 in a wild four-hour game with the Rockies.
"You see (the power) in batting practice," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "He touched both those balls, and one was off a right-hander. He's got big power. He did a nice job of getting us back into the game."
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Austin's first homer as a Giant was a two-run shot off Kyle Freeland, which is exactly why the Giants traded for him in April. Austin was supposed to platoon in left, but with Mac Williamson entrenched there for now, the Giants plan to give the slugger occasional starts at first against a lefty while possibly using him in left in certain ballparks with Williamson shifting to right.
Austin's primary role lately has been as a pinch-hitter, and he has done well, reaching base four times in nine pinch-hit appearances. He certainly took advantage of a start, though.
The Giants overcame eight-run and four-run deficits in Cincinnati, and Austin wiped out the last of the seven-run deficit in the sixth. His 441-foot shot to left tied the game at 8-all. Austin said he has just tried to keep his focus while mostly coming off the bench.
"I'm just trying to stay with my routine," he said. "The stuff I do every day. I'm not changing anything or doing anything different, just staying with my routine."
As for the staying warm part, Austin said it was simple.
"Hand warmers," he said, smiling. "Hand warmers in the back pocket."
Austin's main focus was on keeping his hands warm enough to take good swings, and he did that. But on the mound, Giants pitchers couldn't match the hot bats. The Giants scored 49 runs on this six-game trip but allowed 53, going 3-3.
Holland was the latest starter to get shelled on a trip where the group had a 14.29 ERA, but he said the weather wasn't the reason.
"I've pitched in cold weather," he said. "I'm from Ohio, so I've seen all that stuff. That's no excuse."
