SAN FRANCISCO
Is Nolan Arenado an All-Star?
“I don’t think there is any debate,” Colorado manager Walt Weiss said. “He needs to be in that game.”
Arenado continues to wear down major league pitchers, even getting to Giants ace and World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner for a first-inning home run. He added another homer against former All-Star closer Sergio Romo in the ninth Sunday during the Rockies’ 6-3 loss to San Francisco.
Arenado drove in three runs, but it wasn’t enough as Bumgarner pitched into the eighth inning and hit his eighth career homer.
“I thought it was a good pitch,” Bumgarner said. “He’s just on fire. It’s even more than that. He’s a really good, special player.”
Arenado, who has 33 runs batted in this month, said it’s just being ready to hit.
“Every time I get a ball up in the zone lately, I’ve been hitting them,” Arenado said. “I’ve been sticking with a plan, and it’s been going good. I’ll stick with that. When Bumgarner throws the ball it doesn’t look very big. I’ve been taking advantage of mistakes.”
Arenado extended his hitting streak to 15 games and set a franchise record for consecutive games (12) with at least one hit and one run scored. The third baseman is batting .293 with 24 homers and 68 RBIs.
Buster Posey drove in three runs for San Francisco, and Matt Duffy was a single short of the cycle. Brandon Crawford connected for his 10th homer, matching his career-best total from last season.
Posey’s 26 RBIs in June are second only to Arenado’s 33. Posey’s two-run single in the third put the Giants ahead to stay.
“You know it’s always going to be tough to score runs against Bumgarner any time he’s on the mound,” Weiss said. “He settled in and threw the ball well.”
Bumgarner (8-4) allowed two runs on Arenado’s 23rd homer in the first and five hits in 7 2/3 innings. He also hit his eighth career homer and recorded his 1,000th career strikeout.
DJ LeMahieu drew a one-out walk in the third, and Tulowitzki followed with a single, but Bumgarner got Arenado on a popup and struck out Carlos Gonzalez to end the threat.
“We’re scoring runs. We’re doing a good job,” Arenado said. “We faced Bumgarner. He’s one of the best pitchers in the game. He’s tough.”
Posey’s 26 RBIs in June are second only to Arenado’s total. Posey’s two-run single in the third put the Giants ahead to stay.
Kyle Kendrick (3-10) was charged with five runs and eight hits in 5 2-3 innings.
“Early on, maybe I could have pitched harder to Posey,” Kendrick said. “I made some pitches, and he got some base hits.”
Rockies rumpus
Rockies’ pitcher Tyler Chatwood (Tommy John surgery) threw another bullpen session as part of his recovery from a second surgery. “He’s in the process of building himself back up again,” manager Walt Weiss said. “We’ve talked about having him back this year but there is no timetable.” ... Rockies’ starter Jorge De La Rosa (split middle finger on left hand) appears to be on target to make his next scheduled start in Oakland on Tuesday. “I thought his start would be in jeopardy,” Weiss said. “It looks like it closed up in time.” ... Rockies’ pitcher David Hale (2-2, 5.86 earned run average) will get the start Monday night when the Rockies open an interleague series in Oakland. He has allowed five earned runs in each of his last two starts. He is 0-2 with a 10.32 ERA in seven interleague games, including one start. He has never faced Oakland.
