Sure, it’s just one game out of 162, but this one stings a little bit more.
The Rockies were knocked down and nearly out — twice — but ultimately lost a 9-8, 11-inning thriller to San Francisco on Sunday afternoon at Coors Field.
The loss denied the Rockies a three-game sweep and the end came on an abrupt double play. Colorado’s Sam Hilliard, tagging up from second on Wynton Bernard’s flyball to right fielder LaMonte Wade Jr., was thrown out at third base on a swipe tag by Evan Longoria that caught Hilliard’s foot. McMahon was originally ruled safe on the play, but the call was overturned on replay review.
“(Longoria) has been doing that for a lot of years,” said Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon. “That move, going out and getting that ball, and knowing that that was the only way he was going to have a chance — quick catch, quick tag on the foot — is amazing.”
Manager Bud Black said: “Bang, bang play. It didn’t go our way.”
San Francisco scored the winning run on Wilmer Flores’ sacrifice fly in the top of the 11th that drove home Mike Yastrzemski, who started the inning at second and advanced to third on Wade’s sacrifice bunt.
The Giants took an 8-6 lead in the 10th on an RBI single by Thairo Estrada and a run-scoring double by Austin Wynns off Robert Stephenson.
But the Rockies tied the game in the bottom of the frame with RBIs singles by McMahon and Charlie Blackmon. They had a chance to win the game but Dominic Leone got Hilliard to pop out to third with the bases loaded.
Colorado, which tied a season-high with three home runs, rallied for three runs in the eighth to tie the game, 6-6. McMahon ripped a one-out double into the right-field corner off Tyler Rogers and Blackmon drove in McMahon with a single to right off Jarlin Garcia. Up stepped Randal Grichuk, who unloaded on Garcia’s 1-1 changeup, driving it 462 feet to left-center to tie the game.
The Giants looked to have the game well in hand in the seventh inning. With the score tied 2-2 and the bases loaded, Rockies left-hander Kyle Freeland was against the ropes, having just walked J.D. Davis. Manager Bud Black visited the mound to converse with Freeland about how to pitch to Longoria, who was coming to the plate.
“We talked strategy,” said Black, who had no intention of taking Freeland out of the game. “We talked about the sequence of pitches we’re going to use to get (Longoria). Kyle felt good about the plan and I trusted Kyle in the situation. I trust Kyle Freeland to make pitches.”
But on Freeland’s first pitch — a 92.6 mph fastball, low and inside — Longoria launched a grand slam into the left-field bleachers. Longoria’s first grand slam since May 6, 2013, put San Francisco ahead, 6-2.
“I don’t know how he hit that pitch,” Freeland said. “It was one of those pitches that we determined we were going to throw hard and in, with a fastball. I had no intention of throwing a strike, and I didn’t throw a strike.
“He ended up barrelling it and all I can do is tip my cap to him for a swing like that on a pitch like that.”
Freeland’s Jekyll-and-Hyde season continues — good one start, bad the next. He’s now 7-8 with a 4.93 ERA after giving up six runs (five earned) on seven hits. He walked three and struck out five.
Before Longoria’s blast in the seventh, Freeland weathered a tough, and unlucky second. Longoria, who finished a triple short of the cycle, lined a 107.4 mph double off the screen in extreme left field to lead off the inning. Then Thairo Estrada hit a hard grounder to McMahon at third, who set up to make a routine play only to see the ball go through the webbing of his glove.
With no outs and runners on first and second, Brandon Crawford hit an RBI single through the left side. After Freeland fanned Joey Bart, Austin Wynn hit an RBI single that glanced off McMahon’s replacement glove and into left field.
Colorado had two big swings against right-hander Jakob Junis. Rookie catcher Brian Serven launched a two-run homer to left in the fifth. Rookie first baseman Elehuris Montero led off the seventh with a homer to left, his fourth home run of the season and third in the last three games, cutting the Giants’ lead to 6-3.
The Rockies are off Monday before hosting Texas in a two-game mini-series at Coors. Thursday, the Rockies begin an 11-day, 10-game eastern road trip with a four-game set against the New York Mets.
On Deck
The Rockies are off on Monday
Trending: Ryan McMahon, who hit leadoff for the first time in his big-league career, went 2-for-5 Sunday. On Saturday, he recorded his fifth three-hit game of the season. He’s slashing .359/.406/.609 with four homers, four doubles and 13 RBIs in August.
At issue: With their 9-8, 11-inning loss to the Giants on Sunday, the Rockies have now lost six of their last seven extra-innings games.
Pitching probables
Monday: Off day
Tuesday: Rangers’ RHP Dane Dunning (3-6, 4.06 ERA) at Rockies RHP German Marquez (6-10, 5.50), 6:40 p.m., ATTRM
Wednesday: Rangers LHP Martin Perez (9-4, 2.80) at Rockies RHP Jose Urena (2-4, 4.71), 1:10 p.m., ATTRM
Thursday: Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (2-4, 5.88) at Mets RHP Chris Bassett (11-7, 3.26), 5:10 p.m., ATTRM
