Rockies rally from 4-0 hole, then give it back as Giants complete sweep

DENVER — Rockies Report, Game 140:

ROCKIES BOTTOM LINE: A four-run, fifth-inning comeback ignited by Kyle Karros’ double chased Giants starter Robbie Ray after 4 2/3 innings and had the Rockies feeling like they could salvage a game from their three-game series against the San Francisco Giants.

But in the sixth inning, the Giants crushed Rockies relievers Luis Peralta and Juan Mejia. And with that, the Rockies absorbed their 11th loss in 13 games and their 17th sweep of the season.

Peralta opened the sixth by walking Casey Schmitt and Luis Matos, then allowed a pair of RBI singles to start a five-run inning that put the Rockies behind for good in what would become a 10-8 defeat in front of 19,802 at Coors Field on Wednesday night.

After retiring Rafael Devers, interim manager Warren Schaeffer turned to Juan Mejia, who struck out Willy Adames on four pitches for the second out. But with a chance to escape, Mejia’s 2-2 slider to Matt Chapman caught the outside of the strike zone, and Chapman crushed it 423 to left-center field for his second home run of the night, a three-run shot that pushed the Giants’ lead to 9-5.

Drew Gilbert added a solo homer at Mejia’s expense in the seventh inning, pushing the Giants’ lead to 10-5.

Colorado made it interesting in the ninth inning thanks to singles from Karros and Tyler Freeman and a walk to Mickey Moniak, which loaded the bases. Ezequiel Tovar brought home Karros with a sacrifice fly; Hunter Goodman plated Freeman and Moniak with a double to left-center field, pulling the Rox within 10-8.

But with Goodman on second, Jordan Beck struck out on four pitches against Ryan Walker, and the rally died.

Early on, Giants starter Robbie Ray flummoxed the Rockies, leaving them flailing at high fastballs throughout the night. He faced the minimum through three and didn’t allow a hit until Ezequiel Tovar singled to right field in the fourth inning.

But Tovar’s hit awakened the Rox. Hunter Goodman subsequently singled, and Brenton Doyle brought home Tovar with a single to left field that kicked off Chapman for Colorado’s first run.

Karros had a pair of hits for the Rockies, including his afore-mentioned fifth-inning double, giving him three hits over the past two games after enduring a 2-for-24 funk.

But it wasn’t quite enough.

Colorado fell to 39-101.

Mike Honcho for the lead 🙌 pic.twitter.com/0QpTa1eT5H

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) September 4, 2025

ROCKIES STARTER’S REPORT

In the first two innings, Germán Márquez limited the damage to a solo home run from Chapman. He got out of the second inning by forcing a 6-4-3 double play, one of five ground balls he induced int he first two innings.

But in the third inning, it was death by paper cuts as Márquez labored through 57 pitches. An infield single at his expense by Luis Matos was the first of four-consecutive singles to open the inning; he was aided by Matos traipsing beyond second base after a Patrick Bailey single, allowing Tyler Freeman to throw him out at second base.

Márquez walked a pair of Giants along the way in the third inning, ending the frame with five singles, two free passes and three runs on the board. He locked in and got through the fourth and fifth innings with a pair of hits — including a double to Chapman, who went 2-for-2 with a walk and a homer at Márquez’s expense — but left in line for the win thanks to the fifth-inning rally.

That didn’t last in the end.

BITS AND PIECES

IT WAS DECIDED FOR THE ROCKIES WHEN: Beck struck out to end the Rockies’ last-gasp rally.

NUMBER TO NOTE: .172 — Rookie Warming Bernabel’s frigid average since he hit .500 during his first seven games after being promoted from AAA Albuquerque, including an ongoing 1-for-31 funk (.032) dating back to Aug. 20. He returned to the lineup Wednesday after missing the last three games due to a quad strain.

WHAT’S NEXT: An off-day before a three-game home series against the San Diego Padres to conclude the homestand. Kyle Freeland is scheduled to start after throwing just eight pitches Tuesday before his ejection. First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. MDT.

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