Giants 6, Rockies 2: Anemic offense and bullpen yet again stifle Rockies efforts.

The Rockies are swept by the Giants on Larry Walker weekend to help keep the Dodgers behind in the chase for the NL West.

The Colorado Rockies held the San Francisco Giants in check for eight innings to try and avoid the sweep. However, an anemic offense and poor late game bullpen pitching slammed the door shut against the soon-to-be NL West champions for a 6-2 final score. It’s a tough way to finish out Larry Walker weekend, and the last weekend home series of the year.

Solid Senzy

Rockies starting pitcher Antonio Senzatela bounced back after losing his quality start streak his last time out. Senzatela was as solid as ever, earning another quality start for his 14th of the season. Senzatela held the Giants to just two runs despite giving up eight hits, striking out two and walking one. His ERA remains a team best, dropping to 4.10 on the year after today’s game. He threw 98 pitches, 66 for stirkes. Senzatelawill likely see one more start as the season winds to a close.

Bullpen Blues

After Antonio Senzatela’s strong start on the mound, the Rockies had to turn to their bullpen to keep the game in check. While the bullpen has been far more solid recently, this afternoon they failed to deliver late in the game. With the score tied 2-2 in the ninth inning, Bud Black turned to beleaguered reliever Daniel Bard, who quickly was in trouble and gave the Giants the lead. Bard walked two batters, and a base hit from Tommy La Stella scored the go-ahead run. Tyler Kinley, who has been playing some of his best baseball late in the season, relieved Bard with runners on the corners. He then promptly game up a three run home run to longtime Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford to cement the Giants victory.

What we have here is a failure to offensively communicate

The Rockies offense was mostly dead in the water this afternoon, as the Rockies scored just two runs on four hits against Kevin Gausman and the Giants pitching staff. A CJ Cron home run accounted for one of the Rockies’ two runs today, hit to center field in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Rockies scored again in the seventh inning with an Elias Díaz fielders choice, but the bullpen in the ninth failed to keep the Giants in check. The Rockies have been swept just twice in Denver this season, and have gone a franchise worst 4-15 against the Giants this year. They also struck out 16 times this afternoon, just one below the franchise record.

Up next

The Rockies will host the Washington Nationals in a three game set for their final home series of the 2021 season. Germán Márquez will start for the Rockies against former Dodgers top prospect Josiah Gray. First pitch will be at 6:40 PM MDT tomorrow.