Keaton Winn, SF Giants lose first game of doubleheader to Rockies 9-5
The SF Giants lost to the Colorado Rockies 9-5 in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday. After going 5-1 in a key homestand heading into this series, the Giants have dropped the first two games against the worst opponent left on their schedule. It marks the latest missed opportunity for a team on the edge of reaching the postseason. They are now 1.5 games back of the Dbacks and Reds for the final National League Wild Card spot.
SF Giants SP Keaton Winn pitches against the Rockies on September 16, 2023.
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Rockies opener Brent Suter nearly got through two shutout innings. However, a pair of two-out walks and a hit by a pitch in the top of the second gave Blake Sabol a chance with the bases loaded. Sabol hit a slow ground ball up the third base line for a two-RBI double to give San Francisco an early lead.
Thairo Estrada singled in the top of the third and eventually scored on a passed ball by Rockies catcher Austin Wynns, putting the Giants ahead 3-0. Colorado quickly erased the lead in the bottom half of the inning. It was the only run San Francisco would score against Rockies righty Karl Kauffman, who was called up from Triple-A prior to the game. Kauffman allowed just one unearned run on two hits and three walks with four strikeouts during four innings pitched.
Giants starter Keaton Winn (Giants Top 9 Prospect) was perfect through two innings but surrendered a lead-off walk to Harold Castro in the third. A single by Brenton Doyle and a walk by Wynns loaded the bases with nobody out. Rockies rookie shortstop Ezequiel Tovar jumped on a first-pitch splitter down the middle for a bases-clearing triple to tie the game.
Winn was able to strand Tovar at third base and kept the Rockies scoreless in the fourth before he was replaced by another rookie righty, Ryan Walker. Walker has been one of the Giants' most consistent relievers this season, but on Saturday afternoon, he was uncharacteristically erratic.
Walker allowed two runs on three walks and two hits before he was replaced by recently activated Ross Stripling with two outs and the bases loaded. Stripling walked in a run, which was tacked onto Walker's final line, before retiring Brenton Doyle to end the inning.
Stripling allowed manager Gabe Kapler to rest the remaining pitchers in the Giants bullpen, but he struggled to keep things close. While Stripling kept the ball in the ballpark, he surrendered three runs on four hits and two walks with two strikeouts across 3.1 innings pitched.
The Giants' offense had a few opportunities to cut into Colorado's lead in the middle innings. But double plays by Wilmer Flores and Mitch Haniger killed the rallies. LaMonte Wade Jr. finally added to the Giants tally, hitting a solo home run over the right-field wall in the top of the eighth inning. It was Wade's 15th homer of the season.
Brandon Crawford scored on a two-out RBI single by Estrada in the ninth to cut the Rockies lead a bit, but it was far from enough to mount a comeback. Estrada was the Giants' top performer in the game, finishing 4-for-5.
The SF Giants are now 75-73 on the season and will look to immediately erase this loss with a victory in the second half of the doubleheader tonight. Rockies veteran lefty Kyle Freeland will make the start, while the Giants have not yet announced a starter. It seems like a bullpen game is likely. First pitch at Coors Field is scheduled for 5:10 PM Pacific.
