Giants are shut down by Rockies

Andrew Baggarly - MercuryNews

Coors Field isn't as lively as it used to be, but the Giants took it straight to the Dead Ball Era on Monday afternoon.

Their young bats lacked perk against Colorado Rockies rotation filler Jorge De La Rosa, who combined with two relievers on a 4-0 victory. De La Rosa beat the Giants for the second time in six days.

The Rockies were not dynamos, either. They collected only four hits.

But they had good timing against left-hander Jonathan Sanchez, who took the loss but otherwise had an encouraging start after missing two weeks because of a mild shoulder strain.

Sanchez struck out six and walked three while throwing 108 pitches over seven innings. He walked Chris Ianetta in front of Troy Tulowitzki's triple in the second inning. Tulowitzki scored when De La Rosa hit a flare over shortstop Emmanuel Burriss.

Sanchez also paid for walking Willy Taveras leading off the third inning. Taveras stole second base, advanced on a groundout and scored on a sacrifice fly.

De La Rosa didn't allow a runner in scoring position over his seven innings. He induced two double-play grounders and struck out four of the last five hitters he faced.

The Giants finally started a rally in the eighth, when Burriss and pinch hitter Eugenio Velez lined consecutive singles off Manny Corpas. But the Rockies' setup man froze pinch hitter Travis Ishikawa with a 3-2 curveball. Randy Winn lined out to center and Fred Lewis flied out to left.

The Giants also managed two baserunners in the ninth against closer Brian Fuentes. But with minor league home run king Scott McClain waiting in the on-deck circle, Burriss couldn't bring the tying run to the plate. He hit a sharp grounder back to Fuentes to end it.

Before the game, the Giants purchased McClain's contract and recalled right-hander Brad Hennessey and catcher Steve Holm from Triple-A Fresno. McClain, a 19-year minor league veteran, was rewarded for posting another 100-RBI season for the Grizzlies.

To make room for McClain on the 40-man roster, the Giants released Triple-A catcher Guillermo Rodriguez.

The Giants will add more call-ups today, including Nate Schierholtz, John Bowker, left-hander Geno Espineli and perhaps a few others. The club waited an extra day because Fresno played its season finale Monday.