The Giants needed seven innings to erase a deficit that had stood since the first pitch. When they finally broke through in the eighth, it took an opponent's mistake to start it. San Francisco defeated Colorado 3-1 on Sunday, winning on a game that turned in one decisive half-inning.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| SF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | X | 3 | 8 | 0 |
Trevor McDonald held the game together for San Francisco. The right-hander worked 7.0 innings, allowing 1 run on 3 hits with 4 strikeouts and 1 walk on 73 pitches. Most nights, that kind of start wins. This one required a little more patience. Erik Miller earned the win in relief, striking out 2 over 1.1 scoreless innings, improving to 2-0 with a 3.29 ERA.
Jake McCarthy had given Colorado the lead in the first inning, hitting an inside-the-park home run — a 387-foot fly ball to right field — to make it 1-0. That run stood for six and a half innings. San Francisco tied it in the fourth when Drew Gilbert singled to left and Eldridge scored. Then came the eighth. Rafael Devers scored on a throwing error by catcher Goodman, giving the Giants a 2-1 lead — the go-ahead run. Moments later, Adames singled to left and McCray scored to push the margin to 3-1. Antonio Senzatela absorbed the loss, allowing 2 runs in 1.0 inning of relief, falling to 9-2 with a 3.31 ERA.
Willy Adames finished 3-for-4 with 1 RBI to lead San Francisco's offense. Michael Lorenzen started for Colorado and allowed 1 run on 5 hits over 5.0 innings, walking 3 and striking out 1 on 79 pitches. Colorado's bullpen gave up both eighth-inning runs.
San Francisco improved to 41-55, winning for the second consecutive game. Colorado fell to 39-59, dropping its second straight. McCarthy, who went 1-for-3 with a walk and his 10th home run of the season, is now 2 stolen bases away from 100 for his career.