Nolan Arenado’s Walk-Off Double Leads Colorado Rockies Past San Francisco Giants

Jun 29, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) hits a walk off single during the ninth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field. The Rockies won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Colorado would strike first as Troy Tulowitzki led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a lead-off double. After both Carlos Gonzalez and Nolan Arenado flew out to left, Wilin Rosario would rope an RBI double into the gap in right-center plating Tulowitzki, giving the Rockies the 1-0 lead.

Things would get interesting in the top half of the fifth inning after a Brandon Crawford one-out single. Tyler Colvin would send a Franklin Morales offering down the line in left field but was initially ruled foul. Giants manager Bruce Bochy would challenge the play as the ball would hit the inside of the chalk, awarding Colvin with a double — putting runners at second and third with one out.

After Morales got Madison Bumgarner to strike out swinging, instant replay came back to bite the Rockies. Gregor Blanco would hit a hanging curveball to deep center over the head of Drew Stubbs to plate two, giving the Giants a 2-1 lead. Following the triple, Hunter Pence would beat out an infield single, scoring Blanco from third to push the Giants lead to two, 3-1.

In the bottom half of the sixth inning, the Rockies would finally get the sticks going. Nolan Arenado who has been slumping of late, led off the inning with a single. The very next batter, Wilin Rosario, would turn on a cutter from Madison Bumgarner, sending it deep into the seats in left field to tie the game up at three — welcome back Baby Bull!

Can’t say enough about the bounce-back effort from Franklin Morales. He would end up getting the no-decision but keep the Rockies in the game. The southpaw would pitch six strong innings, giving up just four hits, three runs — two earned, one walk, while striking out six batters.

Adam Ottavino continues to be solid in relief all season. He would give up a lead-off single to Hunter Pence in the top half of the eighth inning but would get Pablo Sandoval to roll over on a pitch, inducing a 4-6-3 double-play.

Rockies would bring veteran LaTroy Hawkins in to keep the Giants off of the board in the top half of the ninth after blowing a save Sunday afternoon. Hawkins would give up a single to Brandon Hicks as former Rockie Tyler Colvin laced a double to left to put the Giants ahead 4-3.

The Colorado Rockies had a tough task in the bottom half of the ninth with Giants closer Sergio Romo on to shut the door. Justin Morneau would pinch-hit in the top half of the ninth, collecting a lead-off walk. Troy Tulowitzki would switch places with Morneau on a fielder’s choice as Carlos Gonzalez followed up with a single to put runners on first and third with two outs. Nolan Arenado would battle with Romo and ended up sending a pitch off the wall in left, driving in Tulo and CarGo for a walk-off 5-4 win.

Notable Rockies Hitters:

• Troy Tulowitzki: 1-for-4, 2B, 2 R.
• Nolan Arenado: 3-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI.
• Wilin Rosario: 2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI.

Rockies Pitching:

• Franklin Morales: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO. 92 pitches, 59 strikes.
• Rex Brothers: 1.0 IP, 0 H.
• Adam Ottavino: 1.0 IP, 1 H.
• LaTroy Hawkins (W, 2-0): 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER.

The Colorado Rockies (26-20) defeat the San Francisco Giants, 5-4. Colorado will send righty Jhoulys Chacin (0-2, 4.76 ERA) to the hill in game two tomorrow as the Giants will counter with Matt Cain (1-3, 4.33 ERA). First-pitch is scheduled for 8:40 PM ET, 6:40 PM MT.