San Francisco @ Colorado preview
Coors Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 17, 2011 ) San Francisco 6, Colorado 5
THE STORY: Still faced with a tall order, the San Francisco Giants continued to get closer to a playoff spot Saturday as they came from behind and held on for a 6-5 triumph over the Colorado Rockies. San Francisco, which has won seven in a row, pulled within five games of both Arizona in the National League West and Atlanta in the wild-card standings with 10 remaining. The Giants aim to complete a four-game series sweep Sunday when the meet the Rockies, who have lost four of five.
TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, CSN Bay Area (San Francisco), Root Sports (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Matt Cain (11-10, 2.79 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Esmil Rogers (6-5, 5.88 ERA).
Cain settled for a no-decision Tuesday against San Diego despite allowing just one run in 6 1/3 innings. The 26-year old has yielded three earned runs or less in each of his last eight starts and 12 of 13. Cain surrendered one run over seven innings in his last meeting with Colorado on June 3 but was reached for six runs over 4 2/3 frames on April 20 in his only outing at Coors Field this season.
Rogers has not won since Aug. 9 at Cincinnati, going 0-4 over his last six starts. He received a no-decision at Milwaukee on Tuesday after yielding just one run over six innings. Rogers is 0-2 with a 9.69 ERA in three career starts against San Francisco, including a loss on April 18 in which he was battered for eight runs in three innings.
ABOUT THE GIANTS (82-70): Outfielder Cody Ross is expected to miss a week with a strained hamstring, which he suffered while running out a single on Friday. Closer Brian Wilson will be activated from the disabled list prior to Sunday's series finale. Wilson, who has not pitched since Aug. 15 due to inflammation in his right elbow, has converted 35 of his 40 save opportunities this year.
ABOUT THE ROCKIES (70-81): Shortstop Hector Gomez made his first major-league start Saturday and went 2-for-4 with a run scored. After going 0-for-2 in his debut on Friday, Gomez made the final out of Saturday's loss, striking out with the tying run on second base. According to manager Jim Tracy, outfielder Dexter Fowler will receive a rest Sunday. Fowler, who had a two-run single, three walks and a stolen base on Saturday, has started every game for Colorado since Aug. 15.
FINAL PITCH: Brett Pill became the first Giant to record two triples in a game since May 19, 2008. Fred Lewis was the last to accomplish the feat, also at Coors Field.