DENVER – Up-and-coming youngsters Nolan Arenado and Corey Dickerson are helping to fill Colorado’s power vacuum in the absence of injured sluggers Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki.
Arenado hit a go-ahead, three-run homer, and Dickerson followed with his second long ball of the game to lead the Rockies past the San Francisco Giants 9-2 on Wednesday.
“It’s nice to know that we’ve got some young guys here than can make an impact,” Arenado said. “Obviously, the experience level, we don’t have it like Tulo and CarGo, but the chemistry is good with young guys. They want to play hard, and they want to win.”
Dickerson said getting the chance to play now and producing will help the Rockies down the road.
“Those guys that are hurt, they’re All-Stars, and they’re going to be All-Stars every year,” Dickerson said. “For us to be able to produce at this level right now is good for us, because that gives us that much more confidence going into next year.”
Another young player, Christian Bergman (2-2), pitched six sharp innings and limited the Giants to two runs on nine hits while helping the Rockies take the season series 10-9. It is the first time Colorado has won the season series, with its NL West rival since going 11-7 against the Giants in 2008.
Ryan Vogelsong (8-10) was roughed up for a career-high four home runs among 10 hits allowed in five-plus innings. He gave up eight runs, matching a career high, in another tough outing at Coors Field. Vogelsong gave up three homers and five runs in 1 1/3 innings during his last appearance at Colorado on April 21.
“I’ve seen plenty of games here to know the ball flies, especially during the day,” Vogelsong said. “And every kind of bloop shot falls in, because the guys got to play so deep. Their infield grass is really quick, too, so it seems like a lot of groundballs get through that in most places don’t. You combine that all together, and it can make for a long day.”
Buster Posey drove in both San Francisco runs with a sacrifice fly and an RBI single.
With Colorado up 5-2, Michael McKenry started a four-run sixth by connecting on a 3-2 offering from Vogelsong for his sixth home run of the season. D.J. LeMahieu and pinch-hitter Kyle Parker hit successive singles, and Juan Gutierrez relieved Vogelsong. One out later, Josh Rutledge tripled both runners home.
Vogelsong was trying to protect a 2-1 lead in the fifth when he issued a two-out walk to Rutledge. Justin Morneau singled, and Arenado connected for his 15th home run with a drive into the left-field bleachers.
Dickerson, who led off the second with a shot into the second deck above the Rockies’ bullpen for his first homer, followed by driving Vogelsong’s first pitch over the left-field fence for his 22nd of the season and second career multihomer game. It was the third time this season Rockies batters have gone back-to-back, and the first since Dickerson and Troy Tulowitzki did it May 10 at Cincinnati.
H H H
Giants center fielder Angel Pagan was a late scratch from the lineup because of back stiffness. Giants outfielder Michael Morse missed a third consecutive game since straining his oblique during batting practice Monday. Giants manager Bruce Bochy has said Morse likely will miss the upcoming series in Detroit but could be ready to go when the Giants return to San Francisco next week. Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval was given a day off by Bochy, who described his rugged infielder as “pretty beat up.”
Rockies infielder/outfielder Michael Cuddyer (strained left hamstring) has resumed baseball activities and expects to be ready to come off the 15-day disabled list when he’s eligible Monday.
H H H
After an off day in Detroit, Giants right-hander Jake Peavy (3-4) will pitch the opener of a three-game set against the Tigers in his eighth start for San Francisco since being acquired from Boston in late July.
After an off day Thursday for the team, Giants left-hander Tyler Matzek (4-9) will go for a third consecutive win against San Diego.
H H H
The last San Francisco pitcher to give up four home runs in a game was Matt Cain on May 18, 2008, against the Chicago White Sox.
Hunter Pence extended his hitting streak to 16 games with a first-inning single.
Dickerson has been involved all three times the Rockies have homered in consecutive at-bats this season.
