Chatwood Dominates as San Francisco Giants fall to Colorado Rockies 5-0

Colorado Rockies starter Tyler Chatwood took a perfect game into the sixth inning as the San Francisco Giants were stymied in a 5-0 loss at AT&T Park.

With the Giants’ loss, they are now 5-8 this season. Despite coming into the game with the most runs scored in the majors, 56, the bats were cold on Saturday.

The sellout crowd had little to cheer about on Jackie Robinson Day, as Chatwood threw a complete-game shutout.

ON THE MOUND

After coming off a home opener where he pitched 8 innings of one-run ball, starter Matt Moore pitched his worst game as a Giant at AT&T Park. In 5 2/3 innings, Moore gave up five earned runs and 10 hits.

The Rockies scored first on a booming home run by Nolan Arenado (3-for-5), which made the score 1-0. Before Saturday’s game, Arenado was 3-for-7 against Moore in his career.

The Rockies batted around for three runs against Moore in the fourth inning, scoring first on a Dustin Garneau double just out of the reach of third baseman Eduardo Nunez. The Rockies’ scoring in the fourth ended on a two-run single by Charlie Blackmon.

Moore told reporters after the game he needed to be more consistent with his pitches. Although he was beat on good pitches low in the zone, the Rockies are an explosive offensive team and are capable of putting good wood on the ball regardless.

Moore’s bad start is somewhat surprising. Before Saturday’s game he was 5-0 with a 1.50 ERA in his last six starts at AT&T Park, including his spectacular Game 4 National League Division Series performance against the Chicago Cubs.

Opposing hitters are batting only .177 against him during that span.

On the good side, the Giants bullpen was phenomenal. Neil Ramirez, George Kontos, and Ty Blach combined for scoreless, one-hit baseball.

AT THE PLATE:

The Giants did next to nothing offensively Saturday.

Chris Marrero, who came into the game for the injured Jarrett Parker, laced a two-out single to right field in the sixth inning to break up Chatwood’s perfect game. Marrero took an outside 96 mile-per-hour fastball and went the other way with a nice, disciplined stroke.

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The only other Giants hit came from Joe Panik in the seventh inning. Panik is now hitting .300 on the year.

The Giants have been hitting the ball well this season. Despite the lack of power coming into the game, they were tied for second in the majors in hits (102) and are third in extra base hits with 38.

But Chatwood has that kind of stuff to do that to teams.

DEFENSE

Both teams flashed the leather on Saturday, but the Rockies were a little better.

Neither team made an error in the game, but Arenado once again was a vacuum against the Giants.

One spectacular play for the Giants came at a price. Left fielder Jarrett Parker injured his right shoulder after making a spectacular leaping catch, crashing into the wall, to end the fourth.

In the third inning, Denard Span robbed Blackmon of extra bases by making a jumping catch against the center field wall.

INJURY REPORT

Manager Bruce Bochy said after the game that Parker will be out for a while. He also described Parker as an all-out player and was not surprised he crashed into the wall to make that play.

More information about Parker’s injury will be released Sunday, Bochy said.

Here is Bochy after the game:

On the positive side, Buster Posey is expected to return from the concussion disabled list on Tuesday and serve as designated hitter in Kansas City.

Michael Morse, who was having a great spring but hurt his hamstring in late March, is expected to join Triple-A in the next couple of days, according to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area.

UP NEXT

The Giants will try to split the series against the Rockies on Easter Sunday. Jeff Samardzija (0-2, 6.75 ERA) will be on the hill for the Giants versus Antonio Senzatela (1-0, 1.50 ERA). Game time is 1:05 p.m.

Next: San Francisco Giants: Eduardo Nunez is More Valuable Than We Think

With the threat of rain Sunday, the Giants have put tarp on the field.