No end to pain, as San Francisco Giants drop 3rd straight

A dozen hits, including three home runs, were not enough for the San Francisco Giants, as they dropped their third straight to the Colorado Rockies, 8-7, their sixth loss in the last seven games.  For the third straight game, the starting pitchers turned a winning proposition over to the normally reliable bullpen, and the bullpen squandered it, this time by allowing four runs in the eighth.  If there is a bright spot to be found, it is that Sergio Romo had nothing to do with this one.

After blowing saves the previous two nights, Bruce Bochy announced before the game that Romo was not available for service. No, the loss goes to Juan Gutierrez, who was responsible for the four runs which scored in the eighth inning, but it was Javier Lopez who gave up the two-run double to Justin Morneau that was the final nail in the bullpen’s coffin lid.

This is a hard one because prior to today’s game, Gutierrez had not given up a run this season at AT&T Park, so it’s tough to slam him.  On the other hand, the bullpen is responsible for the third straight Giants’ loss, and as stellar as it has been all season, this one’s one-like the last two-is on the relievers.  It’s getting old.

The Giants had fifteen base-runners the first four innings and their 6, 7, 8, and 9 hitters in the lineup were on base eleven of their first sixteen times at bat.  San Francisco had home runs from Hector Sanchez, Pablo Sandoval and Madison Bumgarner, who hit his second off of the Rocks this year, and it wasn’t enough.  They built up leads of 3-0, 5-2, and 7-3, and still it wasn’t enough.  

The Panda even drew two walks!

For the Rockies, it was Charlie Blackmon (3 singles) and Troy Tulowitzki (HR, 2 singles) along with that last at-bat off of Lopez by Morneau.  Up until that point, I firmly believed that the Giants would find a way out of the hole.  I was wrong.

In the fatal eighth it was Tulowitzki (leadoff single), Drew Stubbs (RBI triple), Michael Mchenry (RBI-infield single), Charlie Culberson (BB), and the clutch double from Morneau, knocking in the tying and winning runs.

For the Giants it was Tyler Colvin, on base four times, with three singles and a walk; it was Pablo, with a homer and the aforementioned two walks; it was Brandon Crawford, on base with a single and two walks; finally, it was Madison Bumgarner, on base on an error by the pitcher in the second inning, and his leadoff homer in the fifth.

Buster Posey was removed from the game prior to the bottom of the third, after being hit in the face-mask by a foul tip, the second time this week that he has taken a direct face-shot.  The Giants announced that Posey had been removed for “precautionary measures.” 

Bumgarner’s line was four runs, six hits, four walks, one hit batsman, and nine strikeouts.  It was not a brilliant start, but he left with a three-run lead, and up until now this season, that has been good enough.  

When all of the weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth is finished, fans will note that the Giants are still six-and-a-half games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers.  For tonight, we will have to take comfort in that.