Cash Kruth
MLB.com
Multiple times Tuesday night at AT&T Park, the Giants were able to find their way out of jams.
Whether it was because of a superb defensive play by their outfield or a failure in the clutch by Rockies hitters, the Giants kept lengthening the game, as though their pitching staff was begging their offensive counterparts to put the game away.
In the end, it was the Rockies' bats that answered the call, as Clint Barmes drove in two runs, including the game-winner in the top of the 11th, to send Colorado to a 2-1 win over the Giants at AT&T Park.
"We just couldn't get some guys on base and they did," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "We dodged quite a few bullets -- [closer Brian] Wilson did a great job, pitched us out of some jams."
Giants reliever Santiago Casilla (1-1) retired the first two batters in the 11th inning, but Miguel Olivo singled and Melvin Mora drew a walk to bring up Barmes.
Barmes drilled a hard ground ball down the third-base line to score Olivo and give Colorado victories in the first two games of the three-game series. The series loss marked San Francisco's first at home since being swept by San Diego on May 11-13.
To their credit, though, the Giants pitching staff did all it could to extend the game as long as possible, despite the Rockies threatening in both the ninth and 10th innings.
In the top of the 10th, Barmes and Jason Giambi led off with back-to-back singles, with Barmes going to third on Giambi's hit. After Giambi advanced to second on a groundout, Barmes was thrown out at home trying to score from third on a fielder's choice.
With two outs and runners on the corners, Jonathan Herrera popped out in foul territory to end the inning.
In the ninth, Mora hit a two-out single with runners on first and second, but Andres Torres' three-hop throw beat Herrera to home plate and saved the run.
"It feels good at this point. It's a big series," Barmes said. "We had some opportunities but you've got to give credit to their pitching staff and their defense."
For the longest time, it seemed as though the primetime pitching matchup everybody had tabbed for Monday had come a day late.
Giants starting pitcher Barry Zito was his usual self against the Rockies. Entering Tuesday, Zito had dominated Colorado throughout his career, posting a 5-2 record and 2.00 ERA -- his lowest against any opponent -- in 12 career appearances.
Zito continued that trend, holding Colorado batters to two hits through the first six innings.
The Rockies didn't get to Zito until the seventh, when, after Olivo hit a one-out single, Mora followed with a hard-hit ball down the third-base line. Olivo rounded third and scored, but a fan interfered with the ball, sending Olivo back to third and keeping Mora at second.
Barmes followed with a deep fly ball to center field, scoring Olivo to tie the game, but Giants center fielder Aaron Rowand threw Mora out at third to end the inning.
"The defense did a great job," Bochy said. "Torres saved us with that throw [in the ninth], and Rowand. We've been playing well defensively. We're just not creating a lot of [offensive] opportunities in the games where we're shut down."
On the other side, Colorado's Jason Hammel, who went 0-2 last season against the Giants despite holding a 3.52 ERA, also dazzled in a no-decision, allowing one run on seven hits in 6 2/3 innings.
Hammel's only mistake also was San Francisco's lone run, a home run by Torres in the fourth inning.
"Their guy was on his game tonight," Zito said. "Regardless of the stats that he came in here with, he gave us fits last year and he got to us tonight. We just have to clear it and move on."
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