Giants 8 - 1 Rockies
Final
  for this game

Rockies welcome world champs to Coors

Apr 18, 2011 - 2:36 PM

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(Sports Network) - Owners of the best record in baseball, the Colorado Rockies welcome the National League West rival San Francisco Giants to town tonight for the first of three straight games at Coors Field.

The Rockies have won 12 of 15 to begin the season and have already surpassed their win total from April of last year, when they won just 11 games. Colorado had a seven-game win streak end with a loss on Saturday, but took yesterday's rubber match of a three-game set with Chicago by a 9-5 margin thanks to a four-run eighth inning.

All four runs came with two outs and Dexter Fowler got things started with a two-run double. Jonathan Herrera and Carlos Gonzalez followed with RBI singles and Gonzalez ended 4-for-5 with a pair of runs batted in. Rafael Betancourt recorded the final two outs of the eighth for the win.

"It's a nice start I'll tell you that. The fashion that we've done it makes it more impressive. Today's game is obviously what we've been doing all year. Staying in games and winning them late," said Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki.

Colorado hands the ball tonight to Esmil Rogers, who has won both of his starts this year while pitching to a 2.77 earned run average.

After besting the Pirates on April 7 with 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball, working around four hits and a walk, the right-hander needed to work a little harder next time out. Rogers gave up three runs on seven hits and four walks over 5 2/3 innings of a 5-4 win at the Mets on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old is 0-1 with a 7.07 ERA in four career games versus the Giants, including two starts, giving up 11 earned runs over 14 innings.

Rogers draws some tough competition tonight in Giants ace Tim Lincecum, who will be looking to rebound tonight after a no-decision last time out. The right-hander split his first two starts before yielding three runs on six hits and a walk over 5 1/3 innings versus the Dodgers on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old righty's ERA jumped from 0.64 to 1.86 and he went 2-2 with a 2.93 ERA in four starts against Colorado last year.

The Giants will also be looking to get on track after having a four-game win streak snapped in Sunday's 6-5 setback to the Diamondbacks in 12 innings.

Buster Posey and Pablo Sandoval hit back-to-back home runs to highlight a four-run sixth inning for the Giants, while starter Madison Bumgarner gave up four runs over 6 2/3 innings of a no-decision.

"We won our last three series. That's all you really want to do," said Aubrey Huff, who had a solo homer. "It's tough to sweep, especially on the road."

The Giants and Rockies are meeting for the first time since splitting 18 matchups a season ago.






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