Peavy struggles as Giants fall to Rockies 7-2
DENVER (AP) — Jake Peavy couldn't duplicate the dominating performance of Jeff Samardzija.
Peavy struggled through four innings, allowing a franchise-record 10 extra-base hits, and the Colorado Rockies beat the San Francisco Giants 10-6 on Wednesday night.
Giants rookie Trevor Brown followed Tuesday's two-homer game with two more hits in place of catcher Buster Posey, who sat out his second straight game with a bruise on his right instep.
Brown caught a gem from Samardzija in the 7-2 win over Colorado on Tuesday, but Peavy (0-1) wasn't nearly as effective as his teammate. The 10 extra-base hits are the most allowed by a pitcher since Curt Schilling gave up 10 for Boston on Aug. 10, 2006, against Kansas City.
"Maybe I tried to do a little too much with what I saw the night before. The stuff was there, execution was just simply poor," Peavy said. "Just hate giving the team that kind of hill to climb."
Nolan Arenado homered twice, doubled and singled to drive in a career-high seven runs, and rookie Trevor Story had two triples for Colorado, which tied a franchise record with 12 extra-base hits.
The Rockies set a team record with four triples. Story had three of Colorado's 18 hits.
"We had a rough night," manager Bruce Bochy said. "We had a lot of mistakes. What, they got (12) extra-base hits? That tells you we made a lot of mistakes. Guys had trouble hitting their spots."
Arenado was one RBI shy of the club mark done four times. He hit a two-run homer in the third inning and added a three-run shot in the eighth that broke open a one-run game.
This was the third time the Rockies have had 12 extra-base hits and the first time since July 30, 2010, against the Chicago Cubs.
Chris Rusin (1-0) threw 2 1/3 innings to get the win.
Story nearly hit two more homers but was kept in the park by the newly raised fence in right-center field and settled for triples each time. His first one hit low on the fence in the third and he scored on Arenado's double.
Story's second drive nearly cleared the screen in the sixth. He looked like he was going to try for an inside-the-park homer, but he put on the brakes after rounding third when coach Stu Cole gave him the stop sign. He scored on Carlos Gonzalez's infield single that made it 7-5.
The Giants got one back in the eighth on Brandon Belt's solo home run off reliever Miguel Castro. It was just the second hit allowed by Castro in five appearances.
"We got within a run," Bochy said. "The guys did battle back."
BIRTHDAY BOY
Giants right fielder Hunter Pence celebrated his 33rd birthday with an RBI single in the fifth. It was just his second career hit in 22 at-bats on his birthday.
Pence, a notorious bad-ball hitter, has an admirer in Rockies manager Walt Weiss.
"Sometimes you're better off throwing it down the middle because he's one of those guys if it's letter-high he might hit it in the seats in right field," Weiss said. "He might hit a home run on a pitch that bounces. You never know. I hate seeing him come up in big situations. When he's on deck he makes me uncomfortable because he's very difficult to pitch to."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Giants: RHP Sergio Romo was unavailable to pitch due to a tender elbow and will return to San Francisco on Thursday to be examined. Romo pitched on Tuesday night but woke up Wednesday "a little achy," Bochy said. "For his peace of mind, he needs to get it looked at." ... Posey tested his bruised right instep with some running on the field but wasn't in the lineup. Posey may sit out Thursday's game for more rest but Bochy doesn't think it's a long-term situation. "Right now we think he'll be fine because of how much he's improving," he said. "There's always concern if it's still there."
UP NEXT
Giants: RHP Matt Cain (0-0, 3.00 ERA) is 17-8 with a 3.23 ERA in 35 career games against Colorado. Rockies hitters are batting .203 lifetime against Cain.
Rockies: LHP Jorge De La Rosa (0-1, 12.46) had his start moved up a day and will now pitch the final game of the three-game series against the Giants.