Colorado Rockies Earn Third-Straight Win, Hold Off San Francisco Giants

September 9, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) bats during the sixth inning against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park. The Giants defeated the Rockies 3-2 in 10 innings. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The Colorado Rockies have been playing excellent baseball of late, winning six out of their last eight since Todd Helton‘s jersey retirement. The team would pick up their fourth-straight win against the San Francisco Giants Monday night thanks to some pitching and timely hitting.

More from Colorado Rockies

• Colorado Rockies: Bouncing Back with 8-2 Streak
• Colorado Rockies: Bringing a Winning Streak Home for Weekend Series
• Colorado Rockies: Braves Cruise to Easy Win Concern Growing
• Colorado Rockies: Trouble in LoDo as Dodgers Bring Smoke
• Colorado Rockies: Bats Awaken but LA Dodgers Take Opener

Colorado would be the first to get on the board in the first inning as Justin Morneau hit a sacrifice-fly to right, picking up his 68th RBI on the season as Charlie Blackmon scored from third.

The first and second inning for Tyler Matzek was a bit of a struggle as the southpaw gave up an RBI single to Buster Posey in the first while Andrew Susac drilled a solo homer in the second. Matzek settled down after that, pitching seven strong innings along with seven strikeouts as he picked up his third MLB victory.

The Rockies would even the game up in the fourth inning after a bizarre play. With Nolan Arenado up, Justin Morneau left early as he was trying to steal second. San Francisco’s players told starter Jake Peavy to step-off while he was in his wind-up — forcing him to balk. Drew Stubbs scored to tie it at two.

Two batters later, Corey Dickerson continues to produce as the left fielder laced a sacrifice-fly to center to plate Morneau which is all the Rockies needed.

Adam Ottavino pitched a scoreless eighth, striking out Buster Posey which didn’t sit too well with manager Bruce Bochy. Bochy was bickering about balls and strikes all night and was finally tossed in the bottom half of the inning.

LaTroy Hawkins picked up his 21st save of the season, striking out two batters in the bottom half of the ninth to give the Rockies a win on Purple Monday.

The two teams are back at it tomorrow night in-game two of a four-game set. Jorge De La Rosa (13-8, 4.21 ERA) takes the hill for Colorado as Giants ace Madison Bumgarner (14-9, 3.17 ERA) counters.