Rockies punchless in San Francisco, as Giants complete the sweep
Apr 12, 2021, 6:59 AM
Once again, the Rockies’ bats were AWOL in San Francisco, as Anthony DeSclafani danced around danger, pitching his way through the few threats that Colorado posed en route to a 4-0 shutout win that completed the Giants’ first three-game sweep of the Rockies since 2017.
Colorado had 29 whiffs in the three-game set, including 10 on Sunday. DeSclafani struck out Sam Hilliard and Dom Nunez with a runner at third to end the fourth inning, and in the sixth, Josh Fuentes and Hilliard struck out with runners at second and third.
“That’s been sort of the case in this series,” manager Bud Black said after the game. “All the games were tight, low scoring, and we just couldn’t get the big hit to break through and get some momentum.”
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NEXT UP: Rockies (3-7, 5th in NL West) at Dodgers (8-2, 1st, NL West) | Tuesday, Apr. 13 at 8:10 p.m. | COL: Antonio Senzatela (1-1, 5.56 ERA) vs LAD: Dustin May (1-0, 0.00 ERA).
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NOTES
• The Rockies went only 2-for-15 (.133) with runners in scoring position in the three-game series and scored a grand total of four runs.
• Colorado’s lineup has had double-digit strikeout totals in six of their 10 games this year. They’ve gone 1-5 in those six; the one victory coming last Wednesday in Arizona, when pitcher Antonio Senzatela pitched eight scoreless innings to earn the win.
• German Marquez is off to a slow start this season. On Sunday, Marquez struck out seven, but surrendered three runs on six hits in only 5 2/3 innings, raising his ERA to 4.02. While he hasn’t been bad, the Rockies’ unquestioned ace expects to be better. “I feel it’s just one or two pitches a game that I’ve been getting hurt. They’re going to turn into outs, and shutout games are going to come.”
• Though the Rockies has lost six of eight games, starting pitching hasn’t been the issue. Though they’re giving up far too many walks — 26 — starters have struck out 35 and allowed only 27 hits in 45 2/3 innings, good for a a 2.36 ERA.
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THE FINAL WORD
“We’ve been battling with hitting, but we’re going to get this pretty soon.” — German Marquez.
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INJURY WATCH
• Chris Owings (right hamstring soreness) was placed on the 10-day IL on Apr. 10.
• Kyle Freeland (strained left shoulder) was placed on the 10-day IL on Apr. 1. He is expected back in early May.
• Brendan Rodgers (strained right hamstring) was placed on the 10-day IL on Apr. 1.
• Scott Oberg (blood clots) had surgery prior to the end of Spring Training. He was placed on the 60-day IL on Mar. 27 and his season is in doubt.
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STARTING LINEUP
2B Garrett Hampson
LF Raimel Tapia
SS Trevor Story
RF Charlie Blackmon
3B Ryan McMahon
1B Josh Fuentes
CF Sam Hilliard
C Dom Nunez
P German Marquez
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Shawn Drotar is the host of “The Fan Late Night with Shawn Drotar;” weeknights from 10:00 p.m. to midnight — only on 104.3 The Fan. Follow him on Twitter at @sdrotar.
