The final game of a series always feels like a swing game, but this year the advantage is more pronounced. Every win is the equivalent of nearly three, and every loss the same, which made the Giants' bullpen blowup in the seventh inning Thursday particularly painful.
San Francisco took a lead on Mauricio Dubon's first homer of the year, but within minutes the Rockies had tacked on a five-run frame of their own. They held on for a 6-4 win.
The Giants dropped three of four to the surprising Rockies, the opposite of what they wanted on a road trip where the next two stops are Los Angeles and Houston. Here are three things you need to know to impress your friends on tonight's Zoom happy hours ...
Dubon Day
Dubon entered the day with a .549 OPS and without much recent playing time, but he survived Thursday morning's roster shuffle and responded with his best game of the year. Dubon started in a tough center field and looked like he's been playing the position his whole life:
In the seventh, Dubon pulled his hands in on the first pitch from lefty Kyle Freeland and hit a no-doubter to left. He immediately dropped his bat, turned and screamed at the Giants dugout, firing up a group that didn't have much going to that point.
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Familiarity Pays Off
Tyler Anderson pitched the first five years of his career for the Rockies and actually had a much lower ERA (4.16) at home than on the road (5.36), so he was a perfect choice for getaway day. Anderson did his part, throwing five shutout innings against his former teammates. It was the first scoreless start for Anderson since his last one of 2018.
Anderson struck out three and allowed just two hits, although he didn't figure in the decision. He left after throwing 66 pitches and reliever Wandy Peralta immediately gave up a homer to Trevor Story.
Anderson has been a swingman so far this season but has made no secret of the fact he wants to start. He might get an opportunity now, with Drew Smyly on the injured list and no days off until next Thursday. Anderson would be lined up to start next week in Houston.
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Not A Happy Homecoming
Like Anderson, Rico Garcia is a former Rockie. He did not enjoy his day at Coors.
Garcia came on in the seventh right after Dubon gave the Giants the lead and immediately gave up back-to-back doubles. Daniel Murphy put the Rockies back on top with a two-run blast to right off Garcia, who had no control of his breaking ball.
Murphy had his own exaggerated reaction to the homer and stared Dubon down in center as he rounded second base. The runs were the first this year off Garcia, a former Rockies starting prospect who has thrived since the Giants moved him to the bullpen.
Caleb Baragar followed Garcia and gave up a long two-run homer to Charlie Blackmon. Rough day for the rookies.
Giants takeaways: What you might have missed in 6-4 loss vs. Rockies originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
