DENVER – The Colorado Rockies ran out of second chances against Madison Bumgarner.
Buster Posey connected for his 100th career home run and Matt Duffy hit a tiebreaking, two-run triple in a five-run fifth, backing a gritty effort from Bumgarner, as the San Francisco Giants beat the Rockies 7-4 on Sunday.
Bumgarner (17-7) went six innings and allowed four runs and nine hits, twice working out of bases-loaded situations and keeping the game under control in hitter-friendly Coors Field. He walked one and struck out three in helping the Giants salvage a split of the four-game set with the Rockies.
“I thought we made him work,” Rockies’ manager Walt Weiss said. “I thought we put together some pretty good at-bats. But it’s tough to put up a big inning against him. We needed one more big hit, probably.”
Bumgarner, though, benefited from a key hit by Duffy that also helped swing the game in the Giants’ favor. Duffy tripled off Yohan Flande (3-2) after consecutive singles by Gregor Blanco and Kelby Tomlinson. Flande intentionally walked Posey and was relieved by Brooks Brown. Marlon Byrd, who had four hits on the day, greeted Brown with an RBI single.
Rex Brothers relieved and walked Brandon Belt before Brandon Crawford laced a two-run double to center.
The Rockies had the bases loaded with none out in the fifth when Cristhian Adames hit a two-run single, pulling Colorado within three runs.
But Bumgarner then got hot-hitting Nolan Arenado to ground into a double play before retiring Carlos Gonzalez on a lineout to first.
“When you have a guy like Bumgarner and you give him a second chance, I don’t think he’s going to waste that opportunity,” Gonzalez said. “We tried hard. We had some opportunities. That line drive hit to first base, that should have been 7-5. It’s a different game. But it is what it is – part of the game.”
Santiago Casilla pitched a perfect ninth for his 32nd save in 37 opportunities.
Arenado finished with a double and a run-scoring fielder’s choice, snapping his team-record home run streak at six games.
Down 2-0 early, the Giants evened the score when Posey led off the fourth with his 17th home run of the season.
The Rockies loaded the bases with none out in the first, but Bumgarner then retired the next three batters, limiting the damage to two runs on a fielder’s choice by Gonzalez and a sacrifice fly by Wilin Rosario.
Rockies rumpus
Rockies left fielder Corey Dickerson, on the disabled list with a right rib fracture, was scheduled for a minor league rehab assignment and is slated to rejoin the team Monday in Arizona to get a fresh evaluation of the injury. ... Catcher Nick Hundley left the game in the seventh inning with neck stiffness. He’s listed as day to day. ... Rockies’ starter Kyle Kendrick (6-16) will be seeking his first win since late July when he starts the series opener Monday at San Diego.
