The Kid Rocks came up short, losing 6-4 to the Giants Thursday night at Oracle Park, but at least they didn’t wave the white flag.

Colorado, which started six rookies, was down 6-0 entering the ninth inning after putting just three runners on base all night. But the Rockies scored four runs in the inning, powered by a sacrifice fly by C.J. Cron, a two-run homer by Sean Bouchard, and an RBI triple by Elehuris Montero.

The improbable rally ended with rookie shortstop Ezequiel Tovar grounding out to third against closer Camilo Doval.

With lefty strikeout guru Carlos Rodon starting for the Giants, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that the Giants would prevail. Rodon was dominant, striking out 10 over his six innings, walking none, and allowing just two hits.

Yonathan Daza led off the game with a double and Tovar led off the sixth with a double for the first extra-base hit of his major league career. Other than that, Rodon was perfect.

The Rockies have lost five straight and nine of their last 11, but at least their youngsters are getting significant playing time as the season winds down. The six rookies who started Thursday night were: Bouchard in left field; Michael Toglia in right; Montero as the designated hitter; Tovar at short; Brian Serven as the catcher; and right-hander Ryan Feltner on the mound.

Toss out one inning and Feltner pitched pretty well. But San Francisco torched him for five runs in the second inning.

Brandon Crawford led off with a single and Feltner walked Thairo Estrada and Jason Vosler to pack the bases. Austin Wynn’s single made it 1-0. Proctor didn’t waste his big opportunity, lifting Feltner’s first-pitch sinker over the left-field wall for a memorable first homer of his career.

Injury news. Second baseman Brendan Rodgers came off the injured list before Thursday’s game. He’d been sidelined with a strained hamstring. Rodgers started Thursday’s game and hit third.

In a corresponding move, outfielder Connor Joe was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right serratus (rib) strain, retroactive to Sept. 26. Joe’s season is over.

Also, outfielder Randal Grichuk missed his second game because of flu-like symptoms.

On Deck
Rockies RHP Chad Kuhl (6-10, 5.45 ERA) at Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw (10-3, 2.42)
8:10 p.m. Friday, Dodger Stadium
TV: AT&T SportsNet
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM

September has not been kind to Kuhl, who’s gone 0-3 with a 6.66 ERA in five starts. The right-hander dominated the Dodgers on June 27 at Coors Field, tossing a complete-game shutout, allowing just three hits and striking out five. It stands as one of the highlights of the Rockies’ season. In his other start against Los Angeles, he got beat up, giving up five runs in 3 2/3 innings at Coors on July 29. In six starts all-time against the Dodgers, Kuhl is 3-3 with a 4.41 ERA, limiting the Dodgers to a .254 average.

Kershaw, who pitched the only no-hitter of his career in June 2014 against the Rockies, is pitching well as the Dodgers begin to focus on the postseason. In his last start, against Arizona, the lefty allowed two runs and struck out seven over six innings. It was the fourth consecutive quality start for Kershaw, who has allowed two or fewer runs in all five of his starts since coming back from his second stint on the injured list on Sept. 1. In 46 career starts vs. Colorado, the future Hall of Famer is 24-11 with a 3.50 ERA.

Trending: Entering Thursday night’s game, rookie outfielder Sean Bouchard had slashed .333/.508/.429 with 16 walks and 14 strikeouts in 17 games since his recall from Triple-A Albuquerque on Aug. 30.

At issue: Entering Thursday night’s game, Colorado had gone 11-16 in one-run games on the road, including 4-9 in one-run road games since the All-Star break.

Pitching probables:
Saturday: Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (9-11, 4.63) at Dodgers RHP Mike Grove (1-0, 4.02), 7:10 p.m., ATTRM
Sunday: Rockies RHP German Marquez (8-13, 5.12) at Dodgers TBA, 2:10 p.m., ATTRM