Giants finish off Rockies with a four-game sweep

Giants third baseman Matt Chapman hits an RBI single in the sixth inning Sunday against the Colorado Rockies at Oracle Park. Brandon Vallance/Getty Images

2024.07.28 – Matt Chapman and Jorge Soler each had three hits, and the San Francisco Giants finished off a four-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies with a 5-4 victory Sunday.

It was San Francisco’s first four-game sweep since 2022. The Giants have beaten Colorado 12 straight times at home, tying a Rockies record for most consecutive losses at an opposing ballpark.

The Giants improved to two games under .500 as they look to make a playoff push, with their next 13 games coming against teams with losing records.

“If we’re going to move forward, we have to get to .500,” manager Bob Melvin said. “But it was nice to be able to string a few wins together and get that feeling when you take the field — like we took the field today — we felt like we were going to win the game.”

With the trade deadline looming Tuesday, the series sweep generated confidence inside the Giants’ clubhouse.

“Everybody here in this room, we believe in each other,” Chapman said. “We believe that our best baseball is ahead of us.”

The standings are far more promising now than they were when the Giants returned from a 2-5 road trip out of the All-Star break.

The four-game sweep of the Rockies and a handful of losses around the National League leaves San Francisco 3½ games back of the third wild-card spot, currently held by the New York Mets, with the Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals and Arizona Diamondbacks in between. The injury-plagued Atlanta Braves sit in the first wild-card spot, five games ahead of the Giants.

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2024.07.28 (CO Rockies vs SF Giants) See Full Highlights

Giants designated hitter Jorge Soler hits a double against the Colorado Rockies during the second inning Sunday at Oracle Park. Kavin Mistry/Associated Press

2024.07.28 (CO Rockies vs SF Giants) See Full Highlights

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2024.07.28 (CO Rockies vs SF Giants) See Full Highlights

Trailing 5-3 heading into the ninth inning, the Rockies scored once and had the potential tying run at second base with one out against closer Camilo Doval. But then Sam Hilliard struck out and Ezequiel Tovar — who had three hits — grounded out to give Doval his 20th save.

Casey Schmitt hit a solo homer in the first to put the Giants ahead. In the second, Derek Hill had an RBI triple and Soler drove him in with a double to make it 3-0.

Chapman’s two-run single with two outs and the bases loaded in the sixth gave the Giants a 5-2 lead.

San Francisco used six pitchers in a bullpen game, including Jordan Hicks, who transitioned to the ‘pen on Sunday after spending the first half of the season in the starting rotation. Hicks entered in the sixth and allowed two runs in two innings. Randy Rodríguez (3-1) permitted one run in three innings for the win.

Colorado loaded the bases in the eighth with two outs but Spencer Bivens got Brendan Rodgers to ground out.

Michael Toglia homered, and Charlie Blackmon and Hunter Goodman each had an RBI single for the Rockies. Tovar extended his hitting streak to 15 games, tying a career high.

2024.07.28 – CO Rockies vs SF Giants (NBC Sports: Post Recap)

Giants designated hitter Jorge Soler and Derek Hill (48) celebrate after scoring in the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies Sunday at Oracle Park. Kavin Mistry/Associated Press

2024.07.28 – CO Rockies vs SF Giants (NBC Sports: Post Recap)

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2024.07.28 – CO Rockies vs SF Giants (NBC Sports: Post Recap)

After scoring 20 runs against Boston on Wednesday, the Rockies totaled just nine during the four-game series. They struck out 53 times, the most by Giants pitchers in a four-game series.

“Our offense took a little bit of a downturn here, which was so surprising and frustrating at the same time coming off the home-stand — especially 20-run game on Wednesday — with a lot of confidence coming in here,” manager Bud Black said. “We just didn’t hit enough.”

Austin Gomber (2-7) pitched into the fourth inning, allowing three runs.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rockies: CF Brenton Doyle exited before the third inning with a bruised fingertip on his throwing hand. Black said Doyle, after striking out in the first, accidentally hit the training kit in the dugout while taking “a little swing with the towel” out of frustration. Doyle, the Rockies’ third-place hitter on Sunday, is batting .274 with 17 home runs and 53 RBIs. “It’s going to eventually impact his throwing and impact maybe his ability to grip the bat, so out of precaution I took him out,” Black said. … OF Jordan Beck (broken left hand) went 2 for 3 and scored a run in his first rehab game with Triple-A Albuquerque on Saturday.

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2024.07.28 – CO Rockies vs SF Giants (Locked On: Post Recap)

Giants reliever Jordan Hicks gave up two runs in two innings in his first relief appearance of the season on Sunday in a 5-4 win over the Colorado Rockies at Oracle Park. Kavin Mistry/Associated Press

2024.07.28 – CO Rockies vs SF Giants (Locked On: Post Recap)

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2024.07.28 – CO Rockies vs SF Giants (Locked On: Post Recap)

Giants: RHP Alex Cobb, who has been recovering from offseason hip surgery, developed a blister in his most recent rehab start, delaying his scheduled return this week. … All-Star OF Heliot Ramos was out of the lineup with a right thumb injury, which is not believed to be serious. … RHP Sean Hjelle was placed on the bereavement list.

UP NEXT

Rockies: Continue a 10-game West Coast trip Tuesday with the opener of a three-game series at the Los Angeles Angels. RHP Cal Quantrill (7-7, 4.09 ERA) pitches for Colorado.

Giants: Will host Oakland in the Bay Bridge Series for two games beginning Tuesday. The team had not yet announced a scheduled starter.