Rockies beat Giants 7-6, match best start in team history

DENVER (AP) — Nolan Arenado hit his first homer of the season to ignite a five-run sixth inning and the Colorado Rockies matched their best start in franchise history by holding on for a 7-6 win over the San Francisco Giants on Monday night.

The Rockies are 7-2 for the fifth time in team history. They also had that mark in 1995, ’97, 2011 and ’15.

It was a nerve-wracking ninth for the Rockies as the Giants scored two runs before newly appointed closer Jairo Diaz got the final out to earn his second save. He's stepping in for Wade Davis, who went on the injured list with a strained right shoulder.

Trailing 4-1 in the sixth, Arenado lined a two-run homer to left off Johnny Cueto. The breakout inning also included an RBI single from Matt Kemp and a go-ahead single from David Dahl that also brought in another run on right fielder Alex Dickerson's errant throw.

Chris Owings added a much-needed insurance run with a solo homer in the eighth to make it 7-4.

Jeff Hoffman (1-0) pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief to earn the win.

Mike Yastrzemski, Chadwick Tromp and Dickerson went deep for the Giants, who started a season-long 10-game trip.

Cueto needed 29 pitches to escape the opening inning, but limited the damage to just an RBI single by Daniel Murphy. He settled into a groove before struggling in the sixth. Wandy Peralta (1-1) took the loss in relief after allowing three runs, two earned.

Rockies starter Chi Chi Gonzalez lasted three innings, allowing three runs, in his season debut. It was a rare off outing by a Rockies starter. The group entered the day with a league-leading 2.00 ERA.

Arenado flew around the bases after his homer as his teammates applauded. Arenado and manager Bud Black air fist-bumped near the dugout steps.

It was the 228th homer of...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Rockies-beat-Giants-7-6-match-best-start-in-team-15456293.php