SAN FRANCISCO -- As if this week couldn't get much better for Colorado's Nolan Arenado, he now gets to head home to Orange County and spend his 24th birthday Thursday eating some home cooking by his mother, Millie.
The menu?
"I don't know what she's going to make me. Hopefully it's something I like," Arenado said with a smile.
He has earned it, making the catch of his career one night and hitting a three-run homer the next to lead the first-place Rockies past the San Francisco Giants 4-2 on Wednesday for a three-game sweep.
"It's been cool," Arenado said. "The main thing about these days is that we've been winning. These days aren't fun if we don't win. That play I made yesterday, if we don't win, it's not as good as it was, and the home run today."
Tyler Matzek (1-0) outpitched two-time NL Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum, retiring 12 of 13 batters during one stretch. The NL West-leading Rockies extended the best road start in franchise history to 6-0 while sending the reigning World Series champions to a sixth straight defeat.
Charlie Blackmon added a sacrifice fly for the Rockies, who at 7-2 have matched the best nine-game start in franchise history by joining the 1995, '97 and 2011 clubs.
Matt Duffy hit his first career home run with a solo drive in the eighth off Boone Logan for the Giants. Angel Pagan added an RBI single in the first.
The Rockies won at AT&T Park for the ninth time in 13 games, including a three-game sweep from June 13-15 last year.
Matzek took a little while to find his fastball, then allowed five hits and one run in six innings, struck out two and walked one while earning just his third road victory (3-7) in 12 starts. Just-promoted closer Adam Ottavino finished for the second straight night to get his third career save. He struck out two more in a perfect ninth after striking out the side in order in the ninth Tuesday.
Colorado won eight road games last April, then just 13 the rest of the way. That has been a point of emphasis for manager Walt Weiss' club.
"If we keep throwing the ball well and stay healthy, there's no reason we can't play like this the whole season," Matzek said.
Lincecum left a slider a little up on Arenado's two-out drive in the first to dig himself an early hole the Giants couldn't get out of with their struggling offense.
A night earlier, Arenado made a spectacular falling catch over the tarp and rail in foul territory along the left-field line on Gregor Blanco's popup. He immediately threw from his knees while still on the tarp and nearly got Angel Pagan at third for a double play. Arenado still had some lingering soreness Wednesday.
"He's their guy. He's a nice player and maybe the best defensive third baseman in the game," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "I haven't seen a better one. And he hits in the heart of their order."
Matzek hit Giants leadoff hitter Nori Aoki in the back with his fourth pitch of the game. He then stole his third base before advancing to third on backup catcher Michael McKenry, giving Nick Hundley a breather.
Pagan singled home Aoki moments later.
Aoki went 0 for 3 and had his career-best 17-game hitting streak snapped that dated to Sept. 21 last year.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rockies: LHP Jorge De La Rosa will make his season debut for Colorado on Monday at Coors Field against San Diego. He made his second rehab appearance Tuesday night for Triple-A Albuquerque while nursing a strained left groin.
Giants: SS Brandon Crawford got a much-needed rest day while mired in an 0-for-21 funk. ... X-rays on the fractured left forearm of Hunter Pence "were fine" according to manager Bruce Bochy and the RF could pick up a bat in about a week, though there isn't a timetable. ... 3B Casey McGehee could make his home debut after missing four starts with a bone bruise in his left knee.
UP NEXT
Rockies: After an off day Thursday in Los Angeles, RHP Kyle Kendrick (1-1) -- Colorado's opening day starter -- will make his second road start among his first three outings in the series opener Friday at Dodger Stadium opposite reigning NL MVP and Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw.
Giants: Bochy will celebrate his 60th birthday Thursday in the opener of a four-game series against Arizona. World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner (1-1) looks to bounce back after being knocked out of the game after just three innings with 10 hits and five runs Saturday at San Diego.
The menu?
"I don't know what she's going to make me. Hopefully it's something I like," Arenado said with a smile.
He has earned it, making the catch of his career one night and hitting a three-run homer the next to lead the first-place Rockies past the San Francisco Giants 4-2 on Wednesday for a three-game sweep.
"It's been cool," Arenado said. "The main thing about these days is that we've been winning. These days aren't fun if we don't win. That play I made yesterday, if we don't win, it's not as good as it was, and the home run today."
Tyler Matzek (1-0) outpitched two-time NL Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum, retiring 12 of 13 batters during one stretch. The NL West-leading Rockies extended the best road start in franchise history to 6-0 while sending the reigning World Series champions to a sixth straight defeat.
Charlie Blackmon added a sacrifice fly for the Rockies, who at 7-2 have matched the best nine-game start in franchise history by joining the 1995, '97 and 2011 clubs.
Matt Duffy hit his first career home run with a solo drive in the eighth off Boone Logan for the Giants. Angel Pagan added an RBI single in the first.
The Rockies won at AT&T Park for the ninth time in 13 games, including a three-game sweep from June 13-15 last year.
Matzek took a little while to find his fastball, then allowed five hits and one run in six innings, struck out two and walked one while earning just his third road victory (3-7) in 12 starts. Just-promoted closer Adam Ottavino finished for the second straight night to get his third career save. He struck out two more in a perfect ninth after striking out the side in order in the ninth Tuesday.
Colorado won eight road games last April, then just 13 the rest of the way. That has been a point of emphasis for manager Walt Weiss' club.
"If we keep throwing the ball well and stay healthy, there's no reason we can't play like this the whole season," Matzek said.
Lincecum left a slider a little up on Arenado's two-out drive in the first to dig himself an early hole the Giants couldn't get out of with their struggling offense.
A night earlier, Arenado made a spectacular falling catch over the tarp and rail in foul territory along the left-field line on Gregor Blanco's popup. He immediately threw from his knees while still on the tarp and nearly got Angel Pagan at third for a double play. Arenado still had some lingering soreness Wednesday.
"He's their guy. He's a nice player and maybe the best defensive third baseman in the game," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "I haven't seen a better one. And he hits in the heart of their order."
Matzek hit Giants leadoff hitter Nori Aoki in the back with his fourth pitch of the game. He then stole his third base before advancing to third on backup catcher Michael McKenry, giving Nick Hundley a breather.
Pagan singled home Aoki moments later.
Aoki went 0 for 3 and had his career-best 17-game hitting streak snapped that dated to Sept. 21 last year.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rockies: LHP Jorge De La Rosa will make his season debut for Colorado on Monday at Coors Field against San Diego. He made his second rehab appearance Tuesday night for Triple-A Albuquerque while nursing a strained left groin.
Giants: SS Brandon Crawford got a much-needed rest day while mired in an 0-for-21 funk. ... X-rays on the fractured left forearm of Hunter Pence "were fine" according to manager Bruce Bochy and the RF could pick up a bat in about a week, though there isn't a timetable. ... 3B Casey McGehee could make his home debut after missing four starts with a bone bruise in his left knee.
UP NEXT
Rockies: After an off day Thursday in Los Angeles, RHP Kyle Kendrick (1-1) -- Colorado's opening day starter -- will make his second road start among his first three outings in the series opener Friday at Dodger Stadium opposite reigning NL MVP and Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw.
Giants: Bochy will celebrate his 60th birthday Thursday in the opener of a four-game series against Arizona. World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner (1-1) looks to bounce back after being knocked out of the game after just three innings with 10 hits and five runs Saturday at San Diego.
10:15PM,EDT,April 15,2015
AT&T Park, San Francisco, California
AT&T Park, San Francisco, California
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Colorado - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Lincecum pitching for San Francisco | COL | SF |
| Blackmon walked. | 0 | 0 |
| González grounded out to shortstop, Blackmon to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Tulowitzki reached on infield single to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Morneau struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Arenado homered to left center (403 feet), Blackmon and Tulowitzki scored. | 3 | 0 |
| Dickerson struck out swinging. | 3 | 0 |
| 3 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| San Francisco - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Tyler Matzek pitching for Colorado | COL | SF |
| Aoki hit by pitch. | 3 | 0 |
| Aoki stole second. | 3 | 0 |
| Aoki safe at third on throwing error by catcher McKenry. | 3 | 0 |
| Duffy struck out swinging. | 3 | 0 |
| Pagán singled to center, Aoki scored. | 3 | 1 |
| Posey popped out to first. | 3 | 1 |
| Pagán stole second. | 3 | 1 |
| Maxwell walked. | 3 | 1 |
| Sánchez flied out to center. | 3 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Tim Lincecum pitching for San Francisco | COL | SF |
| McKenry safe at first on error by shortstop Arias. | 3 | 1 |
| LeMahieu singled to left, McKenry to second. | 3 | 1 |
| Matzek sacrificed to catcher, McKenry to third, LeMahieu to second. | 3 | 1 |
| Blackmon hit sacrifice fly to center, McKenry scored, LeMahieu to third. | 4 | 1 |
| González struck out swinging. | 4 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| San Francisco - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Tyler Matzek pitching for Colorado | COL | SF |
| Arias singled to right. | 4 | 1 |
| Panik flied out to center. | 4 | 1 |
| Lincecum struck out swinging. | 4 | 1 |
| Aoki grounded out to shortstop. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Tim Lincecum pitching for San Francisco | COL | SF |
| Tulowitzki flied out to center. | 4 | 1 |
| Morneau grounded out to shortstop. | 4 | 1 |
| Arenado grounded out to third. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| San Francisco - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Tyler Matzek pitching for Colorado | COL | SF |
| Duffy flied out to right. | 4 | 1 |
| Pagán grounded out to first. | 4 | 1 |
| Posey flied out to center. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Tim Lincecum pitching for San Francisco | COL | SF |
| Dickerson grounded out to second. | 4 | 1 |
| McKenry singled to left. | 4 | 1 |
| McKenry stole second. | 4 | 1 |
| LeMahieu reached on infield single to third. | 4 | 1 |
| Matzek lined out to center. | 4 | 1 |
| Blackmon flied out to center. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| San Francisco - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Tyler Matzek pitching for Colorado | COL | SF |
| Maxwell struck out looking. | 4 | 1 |
| Sánchez flied out to left. | 4 | 1 |
| Arias lined out to center. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Tim Lincecum pitching for San Francisco | COL | SF |
| González struck out swinging. | 4 | 1 |
| Tulowitzki grounded out to shortstop. | 4 | 1 |
| Morneau singled to center. | 4 | 1 |
| Arenado lined out to left. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| San Francisco - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Tyler Matzek pitching for Colorado | COL | SF |
| Panik lined out to first. | 4 | 1 |
| Blanco hit for Lincecum. | 4 | 1 |
| Blanco tripled to deep center. | 4 | 1 |
| Aoki grounded out to pitcher. | 4 | 1 |
| Duffy grounded out to third. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| George Kontos pitching for San Francisco | COL | SF |
| Kontos relieved Lincecum. | 4 | 1 |
| Dickerson struck out looking. | 4 | 1 |
| McKenry grounded out to second. | 4 | 1 |
| LeMahieu grounded out to third. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| San Francisco - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Tyler Matzek pitching for Colorado | COL | SF |
| Pagán reached on infield single to shortstop. | 4 | 1 |
| Posey grounded into double play, third to second to first, Pagán out at second. | 4 | 1 |
| Maxwell reached on infield single to first. | 4 | 1 |
| Sánchez flied out to left. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| George Kontos pitching for San Francisco | COL | SF |
| Descalso hit for Matzek. | 4 | 1 |
| Descalso struck out looking. | 4 | 1 |
| Blackmon struck out swinging. | 4 | 1 |
| González flied out to left. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| San Francisco - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Brooks Brown pitching for Colorado | COL | SF |
| Brown relieved Matzek. | 4 | 1 |
| Arias grounded out to pitcher. | 4 | 1 |
| Panik grounded out to shortstop. | 4 | 1 |
| Crawford hit for Kontos. | 4 | 1 |
| Crawford lined out to left. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Yusmeiro Petit pitching for San Francisco | COL | SF |
| Petit relieved Kontos. | 4 | 1 |
| Tulowitzki grounded out to second. | 4 | 1 |
| Morneau struck out swinging. | 4 | 1 |
| Arenado struck out swinging. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| San Francisco - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Boone Logan pitching for Colorado | COL | SF |
| Logan relieved Brown. | 4 | 1 |
| Aoki struck out looking. | 4 | 1 |
| Duffy homered to left center (411 feet). | 4 | 2 |
| Pagán singled to center. | 4 | 2 |
| Posey walked, Pagán to second. | 4 | 2 |
| Maxwell struck out swinging. | 4 | 2 |
| Sánchez grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Posey out at second. | 4 | 2 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Sergio Romo pitching for San Francisco | COL | SF |
| Romo relieved Petit. | 4 | 2 |
| Dickerson grounded out to first. | 4 | 2 |
| McKenry struck out swinging. | 4 | 2 |
| LeMahieu flied out to right. | 4 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| San Francisco - Bottom of 9th | SCORE | |
| Adam Ottavino pitching for Colorado | COL | SF |
| Blackmon in left field. | 4 | 2 |
| Stubbs in center field. | 4 | 2 |
| Ottavino relieved Logan. | 4 | 2 |
| Arias struck out swinging. | 4 | 2 |
| Panik grounded out to second. | 4 | 2 |
| Belt hit for Romo. | 4 | 2 |
| Belt struck out swinging. | 4 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado Rockies | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Blackmon CF-LF | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 16 | .265 | .366 | .353 |
| González RF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 19 | .231 | .244 | .410 |
| Tulowitzki SS | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | .343 | .361 | .543 |
| Morneau 1B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 24 | .222 | .222 | .361 |
| Arenado 3B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | .324 | .395 | .735 |
| Dickerson LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 17 | .361 | .395 | .667 |
Stubbs CF
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| McKenry C | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14 | .250 | .250 | .250 |
| LeMahieu 2B | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | .514 | .528 | .571 |
| Matzek P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | .500 | .500 | 1.000 |
a-Descalso PH
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .111 | .111 | .111 |
Brown P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
Logan P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
Ottavino P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Totals | 32 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 135 | |||
| a-struck out looking for T Matzek in the 7th | ||||||||||
| BATTING HR: Arenado (3, 1st inning off Lincecum 2 on, 2 Out) RBI: Arenado 3 (10), Blackmon (2) S: Matzek SF: Blackmon 2-out RBI: Arenado 3 Rockies RISP: 3-7 (LeMahieu 1-1, Arenado 1-1, Matzek 0-1, Tulowitzki 1-1, Blackmon 0-1, Morneau 0-1, González 0-1) Team LOB: 4 | ||||||||||
| BASERUNNING SB: McKenry (1, 2nd base off Lincecum/Sánchez) | ||||||||||
| FIELDING E: McKenry (2, throw) DP: 1 (Arenado-LeMahieu-Morneau). | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | AT&T Park, San Francisco, CA |
| Attendance | 41,188 (98.3% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 2:51 |
| Weather | 64 degrees, clear |
| Wind | 16 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Mark Carlson, First Base - Mike DiMuro, Second Base - Hal Gibson III, Third Base - Brian Gorman |
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