8-26-2013
San Fransisco Giants vs. Colorado Rockies
Today was the first gae of what seemed to be the never-ending road trip. It was 3 series on the east coast which means I missed a lot or most of the games played with the earlier start time. It was 12 days that they were away but it seemed like an eternity, So I was more than glad to be back at Coors. As I headed into batting practice a ball immediately flew out to the pavilions landed a few rows behind me and took a big bounce to the concourse. I ran up the stairs and grabbed it as someone was running down the concourse to also get it. I grabbed it and the dude was like really you are going to take it? As many of you guys know I hate when people think that the ball is theirs because they were within 10 feet of getting the ball and did not. So I tossed him the ball, I am kinda over arguing with these people about a ball so I figured I would give it up. Just don’t expect this to become a habit! So that was my first one, within a few minutes another headed my way and landed a few rows from me and I was able to snag it for my second ball of the game. This day was turning out to be a great batting practice. I was in the stadium not even 10 minutes and had already snagged 2. The Rockies were than done and I thought I may get a ball or 2 from the Giants their first group was right heavy and it included Buster Posey and Hunter Pence. They did hit a few out and I did not snag any more this batting practice. In the process of running around trying to get a ball from the Giants I ended up losing the ball I kept. Later on someone told me how they found a ball in the first row and gave it to a kid. So well I got a few to add to my numbers but not to my collection!
After Bp like any other day I headed over to the wall to see if I could get any autographs and i ended up getting a Todd Helton photo I recently printed up signed.
Juan Nicasio was the starting pitcher for the Rockies, his first pitch to the Giants Gregor Blanco was a ball. Juan did strike him out for the first out of the inning. The next batter Marco Scutaro hit a double.
Nicasio then struck out Brandon Belt for the second out and really seemed to have his stuff. He then did walk Buster Posey but came back to strike out Pablo Sandoval to end the inning. He worked out of the 2 runners on and struck out 3 great first inning performance by Juan.
Barry Zito was the starting pitcher for the Giants. Dexter Fowler started with a lead off single and was then out at second after trying to steal. It was close but he was called out.
He was removed from the game in the second because of something wrong with his knee which happened during the steal attempt.
Michael Cuddyer than hit a hard-line drive to right field which Hunter Pence had a run on till the wall got in his way, no it was not a homer it stayed in and Hunter hit the wall pretty hard and did not make the catch.
This is a photo from immediately after hitting the wall.
The Giants trainer and manager came running out to see if he was OK, he was down a while. He did stay in the game. I think it was the magic trainers towel that cured him of what ever injury he had. We always joke about how the trainers run out with the towel but what is it really for if there is not a cut or something.
With Cuddy on third Wilin Rosario came to bat and he grounded to Sandoval at third for the third out of the inning.
Nicasio then had another good inning in the second. He struck out Brandon Crawford, followed by a pop out by Francisco Peguro and struck out Zito for the third out. 5 strike outs in the first 2 innings.
Helton would get the Rockies on the board in the second with a 2 run home run for his 2497 hit of his career. Arenado lead the inning off with a single. Todd is now 3 hits away from #2500.
Nicasio faced 4 Giants batters in the 3rd walking Scutaro and giving up a hit to Brandon Belt. Posey hit into a double play to end the inning.
Charles Blackmon who replaced Dexter Fowler in the second inning started the third inning off with his 4th home run of the year. To give the Rockies a 3-0 lead.
Another one of those great Coors sunsets.
Nicasio had another 1,2,3 inning in the 4th and struck out 2 more Giants batters.
In the 4th inning with Arenado on third, Helton on second (reached base on a walk) and Charlie Culbertson on first Jonny Hererra hit a line drive over Brandon Crawfords head that caught Helton off guard looked like it was going to left for a single. Crawford grabbed it and threw back to second where Scutaro was covering the bag.
Helton made it back safe on the high throw.
Juan Nicasio added to his cause in the inning with one out and base’s loaded he hit a single to score Arenado from third to give he and the Rockies a 4-0 lead.
Arenado crossing home for the Rockies 4th run.
Zito pitching with Todd on third and Nicasio on first. Culbertson was also on second, but not in photo. Helton went on and scored in the inning. To give a 5-0 lead.
Wilin Rosario hit a double with 1 out in the 5th. He was picked of at second for the second out and Arenado flew out to left to end the inning.
Wilton Lopez came in and pitched in the 7th inning for the Rockies.
Nicasio pitched 6 complete striking out 9, walking 2, hitting 2 batters on 5 hits giving up no runs!
Lopez struck out Scutaro to end the 7th facing only 3 batters and recording 2 strike outs in the inning.
Jeff Francis cam into pitch for the Rockies in the 9th to make things interesting!
Sandoval lead off the inning with a fly out to right.
Looks like Cuddy misplayed it slightly but came up with the catch! After getting the 1st 2 batters out he had a tough time with out #27 of the game.
Peguero got a single and advanced to second on an offense indifference (stole the base without anyone caring)!
Joaquin Arias hit a pinch hit double to score the run.
Peguero scoring the Giants first run in the 9th inning 6-1 Rox
Then the 27th out came Finally came when Blanco flew out to Blackmon in center to end the game.
The Rockies 6th run came in the 7th, just incase you were wondering how the score was 6-1!!!
So that is it for this first game back at Coors for this home stand.
Well See you at Coors.
