Giants fall flat against Rockies, lose 6-1

The Giants did not have what it takes tonight against Rockies starter Kyle Freeland, losing 6-1.

It started off promisingly enough, with Gorkys Hernández hitting a leadoff home run in the first inning. This was his third home run of the season so far, after going the entirety of 2017 without one. And it wasn’t a cheap one, either. At 433 feet, this one sailed out to just left of the kale garden to kick the game off with style.

After that, however, it was bupkis for the offense. Though they somehow managed to get five whole hits, including Derek Holland’s first hit as a right handed batter, they wouldn’t score again.

They struck out nine times, only registered one out to any of the Rockies’ outfielders, grounded into two inning-ending double plays, and Brandon Belt struck out looking on a 97 mph cutter in the most promising at-bat of the night.

Bupkis.

Ian Desmond, however, had the game of his season thus far. Desmond entered this game hitting .166 and ended up with a three-run home run and an RBI double, knocking in four of the Rockies’ six runs.

Coors Field, man....wait, I’m being informed that this game was played in San Francisco. That can’t be right.

This gets to an interesting point about the Rockies’ season thus far. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Coors Field is an offensive cesspool and no baseball should ever be played there. However, you would think that that would benefit the home team. You would be wrong in 2018.

The Rockies are hitting more home runs on the road than they are at home, which just doesn’t make any danged sense, but they hit two tonight. Desmond’s came in the fourth inning, and then Charlie Blackmon hit one in the ninth against José Váldez with a runner on.

The Giants....well, they did hit a home run. That counts for something, I guess. Anyway, Hernández and Holland had the only noteworthy offensive moments tonight. On to the pitching.

Holland had an okay start. He went six innings with six hits, four runs, three strike outs and a walk. Not great, not terrible. I’ll take it. Especially in a game where the offense hasn’t forgotten how to hit the baseball out of the infield.

Chris Iannetta was a pain in Holland’s neck the entire game. Though he went 0-for-3 against Holland, he made him work for it, seeing 28 pitches in his three appearances, including a 13-pitch at-bat in the first that ended in a strike out.

Reyes Moronta entered in the seventh inning and put in two scoreless innings of work. He struck out two in the seventh, got two groundouts to start the eighth, before allowing a walk, a single, then getting a third groundout to get out of the jam.

José Váldez came in to pitch the top of the ninth and it started off well! He got two quick outs, and then allowed a single, home run, walk, and another single before getting the third out. They would have lost with or without those added runs allowed, but I don’t think it helped with morale.

I’m pretty sure Nolan Arenado’s glove contains a magnet that attracts baseballs. I’m also pretty sure that every ball that was hit by the Giants tonight found his glove. It’s gotten to the point that whenever he makes an impressive play, I can’t even be impressed. I just shake my fist and mutter “Nolan” in a similar cadence to the way Jerry Seinfield used to refer to the character named Newman in his sitcom.

Also, “Buster Posey advances to 2nd on defensive indifference” is an eight word sentence that both makes me laugh and makes me sad. I think of the Buster Posey from the most recent Giants commercial, for the backpack giveaway, and how earnest he is as he points to his own face on a pair of socks. And all I can think of is that Buster Posey taking second base and realizing no one is paying any attention.

Buster: “Guys, I’m gonna do it. I’m moving closer.”

Nolan Arenado: “That’s great, Buster. “

“I’m halfway there.”

/crickets

/Buster runs the rest of the way, impressed with his skills. Looks around, none of the Rockies are paying him any attention

Buster: “Aw, fiddlesticks.”

Buster: /kicks dirt