Colorado Rockies Lose Late, Giants Beat Betancourt 7-5

June 26, 2015; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants mascot Lou Seal holds up a sign as the Giants host LGBT night during the fourth inning against the Colorado Rockies at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

After a close win on Friday night, the Colorado Rockies could win their second consecutive road series in San Francisco with a Saturday victory against the Giants.

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Despite taking a one-run lead into the seventh inning, the Colorado Rockies couldn’t hold on late, and Rafael Betancourt surrendered a bases clearing double to Andrew Susac that proved the difference in the Rockies’ 7-5 loss to the San Francisco Giants on Saturday afternoon at AT&T Park.

The Rockies jumped all over Giants’ starter Tim Lincecum in the top of the first inning, as Troy Tulowitzki, Nolan Arenado (double) and Wilin Rosario all drove in runners with base knocks, and the Rox were up 3-0 before Chris Rusin ever took the mound for Colorado in the bottom half of the frame.

Then, in the second inning, Lincecum was knocked out of the game after DJ LeMahieu hit a line drive off his throwing elbow, but a Rockies rally in that inning fell short and Yusmeiro Petit held the Rox to the three-run lead after two frames.

Rusin didn’t get into trouble until the bottom of the third inning, and even then, he should’ve been out of the inning before the damage, which would come in the form of three unearned runs.

In the inning, the Giants rallied after Rosario made a fielding error on a routine ground ball to first base, and then scored a run on a Matt Duffy fielder’s choice ground out, which would’ve likely been a double play had it not been bobbled by Tulowitzki. Had it been a double play — and especially after Rosario’s error — the inning would’ve ended then, but, it did not.

Buster Posey came up next and hit a double to left center field that drove in two more runners and tied the score at three runs apiece heading to the fourth inning.

In the top of the fourth, Rusin used his bat to pick up his defense, hitting an RBI single after faking a sacrifice bunt. Charlie Blackmon then hit a sacrifice fly that scored Brandon Barnes, and the Rockies took control again with a 5-3 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Rusin allowed his only earned run of the game up to that point, when Duffy homered to left field to make the game 5-4.

Rusin would last into the seventh, eventually being removed after 6.1 innings of work. He struck out four Giants while allowing ten hits and just one walk, giving up five runs (two earned) on 98 pitches (64 strikes). Rafael Betancourt came on to pitch with one on and one out, facing Duffy, and allowed a double down the right field line to put runners on second and third with Posey due up.

After intentionally walking Posey, Andrew Susac hit a three-run double off Betancourt to give the Giants a 7-5 lead. Betancourt then walked Brandon Crawford intentionally — his second intentional walk in the inning –to face Justin Maxwell, still with only one out. Betancourt then gave way to Boone Logan, who induced a groundout to end the inning, but the damage had been done.

The Rockies couldn’t score in the ninth inning, despite a lead off walk to Blackmon, and the Rockies lost 7-5. Betancourt (2-3) took the loss, while George Kontos (2-0) earned the win for San Francisco.

The Rockies and Giants will meet again on Sunday afternoon at AT&T Park, before the Rockies move on to Oakland to face the Athletics.

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