Major League Baseball

Rockies snap Giants' 8-game winning streak with victory in nightcap

Published May. 24, 2015 2:24 a.m. ET

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It wasn't a dominant pitcher or a burly slugger who put an end to San Francisco's eight-game winning streak, but a 5-foot-10 backup shortstop with what Colorado manager Walt Weiss describes as "sneaky power."

Daniel Descalso homered and drove in three runs and the Rockies took the second game of a rain-soaked doubleheader from the streaking Giants 5-3 Saturday night.

"He's not a guy that you count on to hit the ball in the seats," Weiss said, "but if you make a mistake, he'll hit it out."

Descalso, who had a run-scoring groundout in the fourth, hit a two-run shot in the sixth off spot starter Yusmeiro Petit (1-1). His second homer of the year, off a 79 mph changeup, put Colorado ahead 4-2, marking the first time the Giants trailed by more than a run since May 9.

"Every once in a while, a line drives turns into a home run," Descalso said.

San Francisco, which won the opener 10-8 behind Brandon Crawford's three RBIs, was seeking its first nine-game streak since winning 10 in a row in May 2004.

"It was a good run," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "You hate for it to end. The guys have been playing well. Made a couple of mistakes tonight but it's a good run, they've been playing good ball. It's a long day with the rain delay."

Actually, two delays, totaling 3 hours, 13 minutes.

David Hale (1-0), acquired from Atlanta in the offseason but plagued by a left oblique strain in spring training, allowed three runs -- two earned -- over 6 2/3 innings in his Rockies debut.

Hale was called up from Triple-A Albuquerque as the Rockies' 26th man for the day-night doubleheader.

"I don't know if it was or it wasn't but ... it felt like an audition," Hale said. "I'm glad I took advantage of it."

John Axford pitched the ninth for his sixth save in as many chances. Gregor Blanco singled and stole second, but was thrown out by center fielder Charlie Blackmon when he failed to slide while trying to advance on Angel Pagan's fly out. Hunter Pence grounded into a fielder's choice to end it.

Petit allowed four earned runs on seven hits over six innings.

After Crawford scored on a wild pitch in the second, Brandon Barnes tied it with an RBI single in the fourth and Descalso added a run-scoring groundout to give Colorado a 2-1 lead.

The Giants pulled to 4-3 in the seventh when Blanco scored from third on right fielder Carlos Gonzalez's throwing error. But the Rockies restored their two-run cushion on Ben Paulsen's RBI single off Jeremy Affeldt in the bottom half.

Showers pushed back the opener 2 hours, 15 minutes and the start of the nightcap -- a makeup of an April 26 rainout -- also was delayed, this time for 58 minutes by lightning and thunderstorms.

These were the seventh and eighth games this season that were delayed or postponed by rain at normally bone-dry Coors Field.

Dating to Friday night's game, the Giants' last 17 runs have all come with two outs.

"It's awesome," said right-hander Chris Heston (4-3), who picked up the win in the opener despite allowing eight hits, including three homers, and six earned runs over 5 2-3 innings. "You think you're heading back out there and then they put a couple of more on the scoreboard for you. It's big."

Jordan Lyles (2-5) got off to a strong start before a strained big left toe derailed his outing. He was charged with six earned runs on seven hits in four-plus innings. The Rockies say he's day to day.

Santiago Casilla got the final out for his 12th save in 14 chances in the opener, retiring Wilin Rosario on a groundout with the tying run at first. That followed Friday night's 11-8 loss in which the Rockies scored four times in the ninth after a long rain delay and fireworks show, making the Giants burn through their bullpen.

"That's encouraging," Descalso said. "These guys are fighting until the last out's made. It's a good sign. Nobody rolls over. And tonight we were able to beat a good baseball team in a close game, which is what those guys over there excel at. It's a good win for us, a good test."

TRAINING ROOM

Giants: San Francisco was encouraged by a pain-free outing from RHP Jake Peavy (strained back). He began a rehab assignment with Class A Advanced San Jose on Friday night, throwing 3 1/3 scoreless innings against Rancho Cucamonga.

Rockies: The Rockies placed LHP Ken Roberts on the 15-day DL with inflammation in his left elbow and activated RHP Brooks Brown (right shoulder tightness) from the 15-day DL.

UP NEXT

Giants: RHP Tim Hudson (2-3, 4.01) closes out the four-game series at Colorado on Sunday.

Rockies: RHP Chad Bettis (0-0, 5.73) goes for his first win of the season.

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