Rockies Blow Eight Run Lead But Come Back to Win Anyway

This just isn’t the San Francisco Giants year. It may be the Colorado Rockies year. In the first game of a four game set at Coors Field on June 15th, the Giants spotted the Rockies an eight run lead, but came back with two runs in the seventh inning, five in the eighth, and one in the ninth, making the score 9-9 going into the bottom of the ninth. Giants starter Matt Moore had been shelled for eight runs in three innings, but the bullpen had only allowed one more since then. Conversely, Rockies starting pitcher Jeff Hoffman had only allowed one run in five innings, while the Colorado bullpen melted down, allowing eight runs in four innings. Momentum was on the San Francisco side.

The Giants sent Hunter Strickland in to pitch the ninth. Strickland gave up a single to Mark Reynolds, then got Ian Desmond to foul out to the first baseman. Strickland then walked Carlos Gonzalez, bringing up right fielder Raimel Tapia. The rookie delivered a base hit, sending the Rockies home as 10-9 winners while the Giants saw their comeback go for naught.

When you are able to win despite blowing a big lead, it signals that maybe this could be a big season. Through games of June 15th, Colorado (43-26) led the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers (both 41-26) by one game in the N.L. West. We aren’t at the halfway point of the season yet, but as it stands now, all three could make the playoffs. The Giants, on the other hand, who were a playoff team as a Wild Card last season with a record of 87-75, dropped to 26-42 with the loss, and are in last place in the N.L West, 16 ½ games back. Only the Philadelphia Phillies, at 22-43, have a worse record in the National League.