Major League Baseball

Belisle blows lead in Rockies' 4-3 loss

Published Sep. 11, 2013 10:03 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

Matt Belisle is trying to work his way out of his latest funk. He isn't quite there just yet.

Belisle allowed five of his first six hitters to reach in the eighth inning, costing the Colorado Rockies the lead and eventually the game in a 4-3 loss to the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday.

''He's just going through a tough spot right now,'' Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. ''He's not getting away with anything right now. He needs a couple of good outings to get his confidence back.''

Belisle has allowed at least one run in each of his last six appearances. The veteran right-hander is 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in his last three outings.

''Something is going on because a lot of hits are falling right now,'' Belisle said. ''I try not to break it down too much or over analyze it. It's not that easy to get hits but against me it sure seems like that right now.''

Belisle (5-7) has made 321 relief appearances since his last start with the Cincinnati Reds in 2008. He's been strictly a bullpen guy with the Rockies.

''Maybe I am too predictable,'' he said. ''Maybe I'm flying open and it's a flaw. But I'm grinding away at it. I'm not letting this get to me.''

Marco Scutaro and Brandon Belt hit consecutive RBI singles in the eighth for San Francisco, which has won three of four. Pablo Sandoval and Hunter Pence each drove in a run.

Nolan Arenado had two hits and two RBIs for the Rockies. Michael Cuddyer added three hits and went 7 for 13 in the series.

''In the past three years I've seen the ball well here,'' Cuddyer said. ''I've felt comfortable in the box and when I'm getting pitches to hit, I don't miss them.''

Giants right-hander Yusmeiro Petit struck out seven in 5 2-3 innings in his first start since he almost threw a perfect game against Arizona before settling for a one-hitter. He gave up three runs and six hits with two walks.

''The Rockies came out singing and got their timing against me in the later innings,'' Petit said.

Petit retired his first 11 batters before walking Corey Dickerson in the fourth. Dickerson raced over to third on Cuddyer's base hit and scored on Arenado's single, tying it at 1.

Colorado added two more in the sixth on RBI singles by Arenado and Charlie Culberson, making it 3-1.

Rockies starter Juan Nicasio was in line for the win before San Francisco rallied. He held the Giants to one run and five hits in five innings.

The Giants left the bases loaded twice, once with two outs in the second and once with one out in the fifth.

San Francisco pulled within one in the seventh, taking advantage of a bout of wildness from Josh Outman. The lefty walked the bases loaded with no outs, and Pence hit a sacrifice fly against Adam Ottavino.

The Giants had a chance for more, but Sandoval and Hector Sanchez grounded out to end the inning.

NOTES: The Rockies will start RHP Tyler Chatwood (7-4, 3.17 ERA) in their series opener at Arizona on Thursday. ... Nicasio has allowed three earned runs in his last 22 innings against the Giants. ... Belisle needed 36 pitches to get through the eighth, the most by any Rockies reliever in an inning this season. ... Cuddyer hit .400 (14 for 35) with three home runs, 10 RBIs and eight runs scored at AT&T Park this year.

share

Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

Major League Baseball