Colorado Rockies Squeak Past San Francisco Giants, 1-0

San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Cain (18). Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

The Colorado Rockies defeated the San Francisco Giants 1-0 at AT&T Park, on an afternoon when the Giants’ starting pitching came to play, but the offense did not.  Though Matt Cain worked seven strong innings, five Colorado pitchers combined to shut out the Giants, with Brett Anderson starting and going three and leaving with a right index finger contusion, and Latroy Hawkins pitching a perfect ninth for the save.

Troy Tulowitzki knocked in the game’s only run with a sacrifice fly in the third.  The irony of Tulowitzki getting the only RBI, is that he came into the game with a lifetime batting average of .328 off of Cain, and Cain kept him bottled up.  Tulo still found a way to get it done.  The Giants, conversely, have had one hit with thirteen runners in scoring position over the last three games.

The story today was pitching, beginning with Cain.  He pitched seven full innings, allowing one run on four hits, with three walks and eight strikeouts.  He got stronger as the game went on, retiring the final nine batters he faced, after giving up a lead-off double in the fifth.  Going into today’s game, Cain had a lifetime mark of 17-7 against the Rockies.  As a team the Giants were 83-43 against the Rockies at AT&T Park, including 14 of the last sixteen.

At least Cain maintained his unreal mastery over Carlos Gonzalez, who came into the game 4 for 41,  lifetime against Cain.  Cargo went 0-4 today. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Brett Anderson’s numbers looked like this: three innings pitched; no runs on one hit, with a walk.  Tommy Kahnle pitched two innings, allowing a walk.  Matt Belisle pitched the sixth, Adam Ottavino the seventh, and Rex Brothers the eighth.

The Giants managed only three hits and only mounted one threat after the fourth, when they loaded the bases in the eighth, on Crawford’s double and walks by pinch-hitter Brandon Hicks and Hunter Pence.  Pablo Sandoval, with an opportunity to put his name in lights, for a rare appearance this season, flailed at a third strike, and the Giants went meekly in the ninth.

Tim Hudson starts for the Giants tomorrow, and they can still take the series with a victory in the finale.  In any case, a game like today’s was bound to come along, and the Giants need to forget this one quickly,  all except the part where Matt Cain stepped up and answered the question about what was wrong with him:  Absolutely nothing.

Bruce Bochy. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports