By Jeremy Kahn

AP photo: San Francisco Giants Gregor Blanco steals second on the Colorado Rockies Trevor Story in the first inning of Sunday’s game at AT&T Park

SAN FRANCISCO-With the exception of two bad pitches, it was a great day on the mound for Jeff Samardzjia.

Trevor Story doubled with one out in the top of the first inning, and after a Carlos Gonzalez grounded out, Nolan Arenado tripled to right-center field for the only run that the Colorado Rockies would need on their way to a 2-0 victory over the Giants before a crowd of 41,593, the 426th consecutive regular season sellout at AT&T Park.

This was the Rockies fourth shutout of the 2016 season, and their first since Wednesday against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.

Since the Rockies began play in 1993, this was the eighth time in team history that they shutout the Giants and the first since April 13, 2015

The Rockies added another run in the top of the third inning, as Carlos Gonzalez scored on a Gerardo Parry single in front of Mac Williamson in left field.

Just like on Saturday, where Rockies starter Jon Gray allowed one hit in seven innings, Eddie Butler pitched great on Sunday.

In six innings of work, Butler did not allow a run, while scattering five hits, while walking two and striking out a career-high six on his way to his first win of the season.

Samardzjia went seven and two-third innings, allowing two runs on hits, while walking just one and striking out nine.

Things looked for the Giants in the bottom of the second inning, as they loaded the bases with just one out, as Brandon Belt singled, Hunter Pence doubled and then Brandon Crawford was walked intentionally to load the bases. Unfortunately, the Giants were unable to get any runs across, as both Mac Williamson and Samardzjia struck out to end the inning.

Arenado went 3-for-4 on the afternoon, and after his third hit of the afternoon, Samardzjia was replaced by Josh Osich, who was able to get Gerardo Parra to ground out to Crawford to end the inning.

During the series, Arenado went 6-for-15 with two doubles, a triple, a home run and four runs batted in. Over his last 18 games against the Giants, Arenado is hitting .438 (32-for-73) with 34 runs batted in.

After getting Conor Gillaspie and Gregor Blanco out on fly outs to start the bottom of the eighth inning, Carlos Estevez got into a little trouble, as he walked Joe Panik and Matt Duffy consecutively and was then replaced by Chad Qualls to face Buster Posey. Qualls was able to get out of the inning, as he got Posey to flyball to Carlos Gonzalez to end the threat.

Albert Suarez made his major league debut, as came on to replace Osich in the top of the ninth inning.

Suarez gave up a hit to DJ LeMahieu, but was able to get him out on a swift double play hit by Ben Paulsen from Brandon Belt to Crawford and then back to Suarez for the back end of the twin killing. The right-hander got out of the inning, as Duffy made a nice play at third base that was originally called an error, when Dustin Garneau beat the throw; however Giants manager Bruce Bochy challenged the call and after a 1:31 review, the play was overturned and the inning came to an end.

Belt led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a single off of Rockies closer Jake McGee, but Hunter Pence was called out on strikes for the first out. Crawford ended the game, as he grounded out into a double play to give McGee his eighth save of the season.

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