DENVER -- With one dramatic swing, Nolan Arenado gave the Colorado Rockies a thrilling victory and finished off his rare feat at the plate.
Arenado completed the cycle with a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Rockies stunned the San Francisco Giants by rallying for a 7-5 win Sunday.
Arenado hit the first pitch he saw from All-Star closer Mark Melancon (1-2) into the left-field seats to cap a four-game sweep. The slugger was mobbed at home plate by teammates, with a frenzied sellout crowd chanting "MVP! MVP!"
"It's probably one of the best moments in my career," Arenado said. "I've hit some big homers, but by far the best, obviously, for the cycle. I've never done it. I feel like I've been kind of close, but I've always needed a triple and I ain't getting that. Today is a great day."
Arenado became the fifth player in major league history to complete the cycle by hitting a game-ending home run, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The last to accomplish the feat was teammate Carlos Gonzalez, who did it on July 31, 2010, against the Chicago Cubs.
"I remember watching Carlos do that," Arenado said. "Now I know how he feels."
With the best record in the National League, the surprising Rockies (46-26) have won five straight overall and nine in a row against the Giants. They are 20 games above .500 for the first time since 2009.
"The fans and the people of Denver are starting to get a hint that we're for real," Arenado said.
Colorado had a 3-2 lead in the top of the ninth but gave up three runs before scoring four in the bottom half.
Pinch-hitter Hunter Pence connected on a go-ahead homer for last-place San Francisco, which has dropped six consecutive games and nine of 11.
Melancon retired his first batter, but three singles produced a run and brought up Arenado, who tripled in the first, singled in the fourth and had an RBI double in the sixth. He hit a 91 mph fastball for his 15th homer and first career cycle.
"I was ready first pitch and I was just trying to get the ball to the outfield, really," Arenado said. "Luckily, I got a pitch middle-in and I was able to do some damage with it."
It was his second game-ending homer in the majors and the eighth cycle in club history.
Melancon has not recorded a save since May 27.
"This was as tough a one as we've had," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "I mean, look at those hits [in the ninth]. A blooper into center field, another one that we couldn't quite get to and an eight-hopper to center. The other guy came through, but [Melancon] should have fared a lot better."
Carlos Estevez (4-0), called up from the minors before the game, struck out one batter in the ninth for the win.
Trevor Story and Pat Valaika went deep in the seventh to give Colorado a 3-2 edge after Brandon Crawford's two-run homer in the fifth put the Giants ahead.
Rockies reliever Jake McGee came on in the ninth but issued a one-out walk to Gorkys Hernandez. Pence hit an 0-1 fastball into the left-center seats for his first career pinch-hit homer, and Crawford added an RBI single later in the inning.
Trainer's room
Giants: LHP Madison Bumgarner (left shoulder) is scheduled to throw a second simulated game in Arizona on Wednesday. He threw his first one Saturday, the first time he faced hitters since getting injured in a dirt bike accident in Colorado in April.
Rockies: RHP Chad Qualls was placed on the 10-day disabled list with lower back spasms. The move is retroactive to Friday. ... Rockies RHP Chad Bettis threw 15 to 20 fastballs during a bullpen session, continuing his comeback from treatment for testicular cancer. Bettis, who finished chemotherapy this month, had been throwing off the mound to a catcher in front of the plate. Sunday was the first time he threw the full 60 feet, 6 inches.
Diamond gem
Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu showed why he won a 2014 Gold Glove with a great play to save a run in the first inning. LeMahieu was moving to cover second base after Crawford broke from first when Buster Posey hit a grounder toward the vacated spot. LeMahieu reached back to field the ball and tossed it to Story while sitting on the infield. Story stepped on second to start the inning-ending double play. Crawford was initially called safe at second, but the Rockies challenged and the call was overturned.
Up next
Giants: RHP Johnny Cueto (5-6, 4.57 ERA) opens a four-game series at Atlanta on Monday.
Rockies: RHP German Marquez (5-3, 4.19) starts the opener of a key three-game series with Arizona on Tuesday.
San Francisco Giants
Arenado completed the cycle with a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Rockies stunned the San Francisco Giants by rallying for a 7-5 win Sunday.
Arenado hit the first pitch he saw from All-Star closer Mark Melancon (1-2) into the left-field seats to cap a four-game sweep. The slugger was mobbed at home plate by teammates, with a frenzied sellout crowd chanting "MVP! MVP!"
"It's probably one of the best moments in my career," Arenado said. "I've hit some big homers, but by far the best, obviously, for the cycle. I've never done it. I feel like I've been kind of close, but I've always needed a triple and I ain't getting that. Today is a great day."
Arenado became the fifth player in major league history to complete the cycle by hitting a game-ending home run, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The last to accomplish the feat was teammate Carlos Gonzalez, who did it on July 31, 2010, against the Chicago Cubs.
"I remember watching Carlos do that," Arenado said. "Now I know how he feels."
With the best record in the National League, the surprising Rockies (46-26) have won five straight overall and nine in a row against the Giants. They are 20 games above .500 for the first time since 2009.
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Colorado had a 3-2 lead in the top of the ninth but gave up three runs before scoring four in the bottom half.
Pinch-hitter Hunter Pence connected on a go-ahead homer for last-place San Francisco, which has dropped six consecutive games and nine of 11.
Melancon retired his first batter, but three singles produced a run and brought up Arenado, who tripled in the first, singled in the fourth and had an RBI double in the sixth. He hit a 91 mph fastball for his 15th homer and first career cycle.
"I was ready first pitch and I was just trying to get the ball to the outfield, really," Arenado said. "Luckily, I got a pitch middle-in and I was able to do some damage with it."
It was his second game-ending homer in the majors and the eighth cycle in club history.
Melancon has not recorded a save since May 27.
"This was as tough a one as we've had," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "I mean, look at those hits [in the ninth]. A blooper into center field, another one that we couldn't quite get to and an eight-hopper to center. The other guy came through, but [Melancon] should have fared a lot better."
Carlos Estevez (4-0), called up from the minors before the game, struck out one batter in the ninth for the win.
Trevor Story and Pat Valaika went deep in the seventh to give Colorado a 3-2 edge after Brandon Crawford's two-run homer in the fifth put the Giants ahead.
Rockies reliever Jake McGee came on in the ninth but issued a one-out walk to Gorkys Hernandez. Pence hit an 0-1 fastball into the left-center seats for his first career pinch-hit homer, and Crawford added an RBI single later in the inning.
Trainer's room
Giants: LHP Madison Bumgarner (left shoulder) is scheduled to throw a second simulated game in Arizona on Wednesday. He threw his first one Saturday, the first time he faced hitters since getting injured in a dirt bike accident in Colorado in April.
Rockies: RHP Chad Qualls was placed on the 10-day disabled list with lower back spasms. The move is retroactive to Friday. ... Rockies RHP Chad Bettis threw 15 to 20 fastballs during a bullpen session, continuing his comeback from treatment for testicular cancer. Bettis, who finished chemotherapy this month, had been throwing off the mound to a catcher in front of the plate. Sunday was the first time he threw the full 60 feet, 6 inches.
Diamond gem
Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu showed why he won a 2014 Gold Glove with a great play to save a run in the first inning. LeMahieu was moving to cover second base after Crawford broke from first when Buster Posey hit a grounder toward the vacated spot. LeMahieu reached back to field the ball and tossed it to Story while sitting on the infield. Story stepped on second to start the inning-ending double play. Crawford was initially called safe at second, but the Rockies challenged and the call was overturned.
Up next
Giants: RHP Johnny Cueto (5-6, 4.57 ERA) opens a four-game series at Atlanta on Monday.
Rockies: RHP German Marquez (5-3, 4.19) starts the opener of a key three-game series with Arizona on Tuesday.
3:10PM,EDT,June 18,2017
Coors Field, Denver,Colorado
Coors Field, Denver,Colorado
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| San Francisco - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Tyler Chatwood pitching for Colorado | SF | COL |
| Span walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Panik struck out swinging, Span stole second. | 0 | 0 |
| Crawford singled to center, Span to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Posey grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, Crawford out at second. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Ty Blach pitching for San Francisco | SF | COL |
| Blackmon struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| LeMahieu grounded out to pitcher. | 0 | 0 |
| Arenado tripled to deep right. | 0 | 0 |
| Reynolds walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Desmond grounded into fielder's choice to third, Reynolds out at second. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| San Francisco - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Tyler Chatwood pitching for Colorado | SF | COL |
| Belt singled to right center. | 0 | 0 |
| Slater grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Belt out at second. | 0 | 0 |
| Hill grounded out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Ty Blach pitching for San Francisco | SF | COL |
| González lined out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Story struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Murphy struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| San Francisco - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Tyler Chatwood pitching for Colorado | SF | COL |
| Hernández reached on bunt single to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Blach sacrificed to catcher, Hernández to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Span walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Panik grounded out to first, Hernández to third, Span to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Crawford lined out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Ty Blach pitching for San Francisco | SF | COL |
| Chatwood popped out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Blackmon grounded out to first. | 0 | 0 |
| LeMahieu flied out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| San Francisco - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Tyler Chatwood pitching for Colorado | SF | COL |
| Posey doubled to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Belt struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Slater grounded into fielder's choice to third, Posey out at third. | 0 | 0 |
| Hill walked, Slater to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Hernández grounded out to pitcher. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Ty Blach pitching for San Francisco | SF | COL |
| Arenado singled to deep right. | 0 | 0 |
| Reynolds singled to right center, Arenado to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Desmond grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Reynolds out at second, Arenado to third. | 0 | 0 |
| González struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| San Francisco - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Tyler Chatwood pitching for Colorado | SF | COL |
| Blach struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Span walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Panik lined out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Span stole second. | 0 | 0 |
| Crawford homered to left (369 feet), Span scored. | 2 | 0 |
| Posey hit by pitch. | 2 | 0 |
| Belt struck out swinging. | 2 | 0 |
| 2 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Ty Blach pitching for San Francisco | SF | COL |
| Story reached on infield single to third. | 2 | 0 |
| Murphy struck out swinging. | 2 | 0 |
| Chatwood sacrificed to third, Story to second. | 2 | 0 |
| Blackmon grounded out to first. | 2 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| San Francisco - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Tyler Chatwood pitching for Colorado | SF | COL |
| Slater struck out swinging. | 2 | 0 |
| Hill lined out to left. | 2 | 0 |
| Hernández flied out to right. | 2 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Ty Blach pitching for San Francisco | SF | COL |
| LeMahieu walked. | 2 | 0 |
| Arenado doubled to deep center, LeMahieu scored. | 2 | 1 |
| Reynolds fouled out to first. | 2 | 1 |
| Desmond popped out to shortstop. | 2 | 1 |
| González grounded out to second. | 2 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| San Francisco - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Chris Rusin pitching for Colorado | SF | COL |
| Rusin relieved Chatwood. | 2 | 1 |
| Blach grounded out to second. | 2 | 1 |
| Span reached on infield single to shortstop. | 2 | 1 |
| Panik flied out to left. | 2 | 1 |
| Crawford struck out swinging. | 2 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Ty Blach pitching for San Francisco | SF | COL |
| Story homered to left (438 feet). | 2 | 2 |
| Murphy flied out to right. | 2 | 2 |
| Valaika hit for Rusin. | 2 | 2 |
| Valaika homered to left (394 feet). | 2 | 3 |
| Blackmon grounded out to second. | 2 | 3 |
| Kontos relieved Blach. | 2 | 3 |
| LeMahieu singled to center. | 2 | 3 |
| Arenado struck out swinging. | 2 | 3 |
| 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| San Francisco - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Jordan Lyles pitching for Colorado | SF | COL |
| Lyles relieved Rusin. | 2 | 3 |
| Posey struck out swinging. | 2 | 3 |
| Belt flied out to center. | 2 | 3 |
| Slater fouled out to first. | 2 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| George Kontos pitching for San Francisco | SF | COL |
| Reynolds struck out looking. | 2 | 3 |
| Desmond fouled out to first. | 2 | 3 |
| González singled to right center. | 2 | 3 |
| Story struck out swinging. | 2 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| San Francisco - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Jake McGee pitching for Colorado | SF | COL |
| McGee relieved Lyles. | 2 | 3 |
| Hill grounded out to third. | 2 | 3 |
| Hernández walked. | 2 | 3 |
| Pence hit for Kontos. | 2 | 3 |
| Pence homered to left (440 feet), Hernández scored. | 4 | 3 |
| Span lined out to left. | 4 | 3 |
| Panik singled to left. | 4 | 3 |
| Panik stole second. | 4 | 3 |
| Crawford doubled to deep right, Panik scored. | 5 | 3 |
| Tapia in right field. | 5 | 3 |
| Estévez relieved McGee. | 5 | 3 |
| Posey struck out swinging. | 5 | 3 |
| 3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Bottom of 9th | SCORE | |
| Mark Melancon pitching for San Francisco | SF | COL |
| Melancon relieved Kontos. | 5 | 3 |
| Wolters hit for Murphy. | 5 | 3 |
| Wolters grounded out to second. | 5 | 3 |
| Tapia singled to center. | 5 | 3 |
| Blackmon singled to deep center, Tapia to third. | 5 | 3 |
| LeMahieu singled to right, Tapia scored, Blackmon to third. | 5 | 4 |
| Arenado homered to left (374 feet), Blackmon and LeMahieu scored. | 5 | 7 |
| 4 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
San Francisco Giants
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Span CF | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 25 | .266 | .322 | .418 |
| Panik 2B | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15 | .273 | .338 | .407 |
| Crawford SS | 5 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 12 | .258 | .301 | .424 |
| Posey C | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 25 | .352 | .439 | .538 |
| Belt 1B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 11 | .221 | .338 | .410 |
| Slater LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17 | .354 | .415 | .479 |
| Hill 3B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 | .143 | .257 | .254 |
| Hernández RF | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 | .217 | .296 | .283 |
| Blach P | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15 | .174 | .259 | .217 |
Kontos P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
a-Pence PH
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .251 | .293 | .355 |
Melancon P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Totals | 33 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 159 | |||
| a-homered to left for G Kontos in the 9th | ||||||||||
| BATTING 2B: Posey (12, Chatwood); Crawford (13, McGee) HR: Crawford (6, 5th inning off Chatwood 1 on, 2 Out); Pence (4, 9th inning off McGee 1 on, 1 Out) RBI: Crawford 3 (32), Pence 2 (24) S: Blach 2-out RBI: Crawford 3 GIDP: Posey, Slater Giants RISP: 3-10 (Panik 0-1, Posey 0-2, Belt 0-1, Hernández 0-1, Crawford 3-4, Slater 0-1) Team LOB: 8 | ||||||||||
| BASERUNNING SB: Span 2 (3, 2nd base off Chatwood/Murphy 2); Panik (3, 2nd base off McGee/Murphy) | ||||||||||
| FIELDING DP: 1 (Crawford-Panik-Belt). | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Coors Field, Denver, CO |
| Attendance | 48,341 (95.9% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:16 |
| Weather | 78 degrees, sunny |
| Wind | 7 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Adrian Johnson, First Base - Eric Cooper, Second Base - Gary Cederstrom, Third Base - Gabe Morales |
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