The Rockies’ one-two rookie punch KO’d the Giants in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Coors Field.<\/p>\n
Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar hit a three-run triple and drove in a career-high four runs, and left fielder Nolan Jones tripled and scored three times as Colorado rolled to a 9-5 victory.<\/p>\n
The Rockies won their fourth consecutive game, tying a season-best streak set way back on April 30 to May 4.<\/p>\n
The Giants, who entered the day one game out of the race for the National League’s third wild-card spot, were hurt by awful pitching. The Giants walked seven, including four in Colorado’s three-run fifth inning.<\/p>\n
Ryan Walker walked Hunter Goodman with the bases full to force in one run. Walker was replaced by Ross Stripling, who promptly walked Harold Castro for another run.<\/p>\n
San Francisco led 3-0 in the third until Tovar’s bases-loaded triple knotted the game in the bottom of the frame.<\/p>\n
Jones hit a one-out triple in the sixth and scored on Tovar’s single to left.<\/p>\n
Left-hander Kyle Freeland was scheduled to start Game 2 for the Rockies.<\/p>\n
Lambert to IL.<\/strong> Right-hander Peter Lambert, who’s pitched well enough to earn strong consideration for a spot in next season’s starting rotation, was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday with right biceps tendinitis.<\/p>\n Lambert, 3-7 with a 5.36 ERA in 25 games, including 11 starts, is likely done for the season.\u00a0 He began the year in the bullpen before being plugged into the rotation when the Rockies suffered a rash of injuries to their starting rotation.<\/p>\n In his 11 starts, Lambert posted a 4.50 ERA, but he wasn’t sharp in his last two starts, giving up 10 runs in 11 innings.<\/p>\n The Rockies’ plan this season was to limit Lambert to 100-120 innings this season because of his history of elbow problems. Counting his seven starts at Triple-A Albuquerque, Lambert has thrown 109 innings.<\/p>\n Giants LHP Sean Manaea (5-6, 4.80 ERA) at Rockies RHP Chris Flexen (1-3, 6.75)<\/p>\n 1:10 p.m. Sunday, Coors Field<\/p>\n TV:<\/strong> ATTRM<\/p>\n Radio:<\/strong> 630 KHOW<\/p>\n Flexen is trying to make a strong impression as the season winds down. Despite his sky-high ERA, he’s been pitching better of late. In his last start, he allowed three runs on nine hits, walked two and fanned five over 5 2\/3 innings against the Cubs at Coors Field. On Tuesday against the Guardians, Manaea made his first start since May 10. He was saddled with the loss but pitched decently over 5 2\/3 innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on two hits and two walks while striking out five. Manaea lost his spot in the rotation after posting a 7.96 ERA over his first eight appearances of the season, but he got back on track after moving to the bullpen where he put up a 3.86 ERA over 25 relief appearances.<\/p>\nSunday’s pitching matchup<\/h4>\n
Pitching probables<\/h4>\n