Colorado Rockies morning after: 3 moments that mattered on Tuesday

SAN FRANCISCO — It’s hard to call Tuesday’s night 9-2 loss by the Colorado Rockies to the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park much more than it was: Ugly. And the problem for the Rockies is that any time playing the Giants in recent games has been anything but pretty as Colorado has now lost nine straight to San Francisco.

Here are three moments that mattered for the Colorado Rockies in Tuesday’s loss to the San Francisco Giants

Bottom of the second

With the bases loaded and one out in the frame and two strikes on San Francisco batter Luis Gonzalez, the Giants outfielder put the ball in play but didn’t get it out of the infield. However, he was able to get enough of it on a high chopper to reach base, plate San Francisco’s first run, and keep the bases loaded.

The next batter, catcher Curt Casali, would line a single to right that would score two batters, giving the Giants a 3-0 lead and control of the game.

On the evening, San Francisco was 4-for-15 with runners in scoring position while the Colorado Rockies were just 1-of-8.

Bottom of the fifth

Rockies reliever Lucas Gilbreath opened the frame by hitting pinch hitter Darin Ruf. It would be the start of a backbreaking frame for the Rockies as San Francisco scored three times, including twice on bases-loaded walks.

Gilbreath now has a 20.25 ERA on the season and has allowed multiple runs in three of his five outings. This was the left-hander’s first work since being recalled from Triple-A earlier in the road trip and he walked two, allowed two hits, and hit a batter.

“We didn’t pitch great, too many walks,” Colorado manager Bud Black offered after the loss that sent the Rockies to their fourth defeat in five games on the road trip so far. “We hit a guy to start an inning. You can’t give this team free passes. They’re tough. They really battle. They take their walks. They put the ball in play.”

Top of the sixth

Down 8-1, two singles and a walk loaded the bases for the Rockies. However, reliever Zack Littell needed just seven pitches to strike out Garrett Hampson and Sam Hilliard to end the frame and the threat.

“On this trip, we haven’t scored,” Black said. “We had some opportunities to get a knock or two to get us closer and to get us some momentum, but we didn’t get it.”