De La Rosa Helps Rockies To 10-2 Win Over Giants
DENVER (AP) -- Matt Cain's early season success was no match for Ty Wigginton's bat.
Cain was roughed up for six runs, including a three-run homer by Wigginton, and the Colorado Rockies beat the San Francisco Giants 10-2 Wednesday to salvage the series finale against the defending world champions.
"Definitley, the big hit by Wigginton kind of put a damper on things and put our guys in a big a hole," said Cain, who allowed nine hits in 4 2-3 innings. "That's not something I wanted to do.
Cain (2-1) struck out six and walked two in his shortest outing of the season. It was in stark contrast to the last time he had pitched at Coors Field when he took a no-hitter into the eighth inning last September. Coming in, he had given up just three runs in 19 innings over three previous outings.
"He had that one inning there where they put up four runs - made a mistake there for that three-run homer," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said, referring to the Rockies' four-run second. "But he has been throwing the ball so well, and their guy pitched well. That's they way it goes. But it was a good road trip for us. We won a couple of series. Matt was just a little bit off today, that's all."
Jorge De La Rosa (3-0) went seven innings, giving up two runs and four hits to help the Rockies avoid the series sweep after dropping the first two games to their division rival.
Wigginton, hitting .214 entering the game, connected on an inside fastball from Cain for his first homer with the Rockies and the 1,000th hit of his career.
"We felt that was a good pitch to Wigginton," Cain said. "He made a good swing, and a good pass on it and he kind of beat me to it. But I can't be mad about a pitch that was where I wanted to throw it and he hit it."
Wigginton said reaching the milestone hit took a backseat to the homer's significance in the game.
"Absolutely," he said. "I'll take the three-run homer, especially at that time."
Buster Posey had both RBIs for the Giants, one on a single in the first and another with a grounder in the sixth.
That's all the damage San Francisco could manage against De La Rosa, who was on the ropes in the opening frame but worked his way out of trouble and never looked back. He tied Jhoulys Chacin for most wins on the staff.
Pinch hitter Ryan Spilborghs added a late three-run homer, backup catcher Jose Morales contributed an RBI double and Seth Smith had a pair of RBI singles as Colorado had a season-high scoring output.
The Giants jumped on Colorado in the first inning yet again, scoring a run on Posey's bloop single to left. That gave them 10 runs in the opening frame during the three-game series.
The damage could've been even more extensive after Aaron Rowand led off the game with a double and Freddy Sanchez drew a walk. But Aubrey Huff, who reached on a fielder's choice, was thrown out at third by Carlos Gonzalez on Posey's RBI hit and Cody Ross hit a fly ball to end the inning.
This was Ross' first appearance of the season after straining his right calf in the final week of spring training. The MVP of the NLCS last season finished hitless in four plate appearances.
The Giants were without Pablo Sandoval, who was a late scratch after straining his right triceps during batting practice.
NOTES: Rockies RHP Aaron Cook (broken finger) has started throwing off a slope. Cook has been on the DL since slamming the digit in a door early in spring training. "He's making strides," Tracy said. ... To make room for Ross, the Giants optioned INF Brandon Belt to Triple-A Fresno. Belt turned 23 on Wednesday. ... The Rockies moved to 7-1 in day games this season. ... The Giants finished their road trip with a 4-2 mark. They have an off day Thursday before hosting Atlanta for a three-game set that starts on Friday.
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