By Ben Leonard

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — 240 years ago today, America’s Founding Fathers declared independent a nation founded upon the principles of self-determination, liberty, and eventually, baseball. Especially in San Francisco, America’s national pastime has become much more than that on Independence Day (and every day) — a place for a sea of red, white, and orange to congregate and revel in freedom.

There’s something about pitching that resembles that founding spirit. It’s on you — and only you — to blaze your own trail and stay in command. And who would be better to represent the Giants on a blustery but brilliant Independence Day than Jake Peavy, the ardent patriot? On Monday, Peavy seemed to fit the bill perfectly, leaving with a standing ovation after gritting through 6.2 innings to lead the San Francisco Giants (53-32) to a 3-1 win over the Colorado Rockies (37-45), backed by home runs from Buster Posey and Angel Pagan.

“I’d like to think I’m as patriotic as they come,” Peavy, who has played guitar to benefit Barry Zito’s Strikeouts For Troops, said Monday. “It’s just fun to have the extra adrenaline when you see the flyover and you see the troops. You all know that’s meaningful to me, so you just try to put the best effort you can forth. But July 9th, 10th, whenever the next one is, I’m going to bring it too.”

Peavy gave up just an after a second-inning balk that produced the Rockies’ only run, striking out six and walking two. With the bases loaded and the pitcher, Tyler Anderson, at the dish, Peavy picked off to first to read if Anderson would bunt, but was called for a balk, plating Ryan Raburn. By MLB rules, since Peavy threw to an unoccupied bag (first baseman Brandon Belt wasn’t near first), it had to be deemed a balk. Peavy indicated that he was confused about the call — he didn’t know the rule.

Other than that, it was smooth sailing for the 35-year-old Alabama native, who has finally found a groove after a rough start to the season. Fans were calling for Peavy’s head after a nine-game stretch in which Peavy posted a 8.21 ERA, but has quickly turned those numbers around. In his last eight starts, opponents have hit just .215 against Peavy, good for a 2.27 ERA.

“I think more than anything, he’s doing a better job of pitching,” Giants’ manager Bruce Bochy said Monday. “Backing off a little bit, changing speeds, hitting the spots. He was throwing a little hard there when things weren’t going well, and I think he’ll say the same. It’s just better for him to back off a little bit and pitch — that’s who he is now.”

In support of Peavy, Posey slammed a bottle rocket off Anderson in the second, quickly tying up the game. The next inning, Angel Pagan hit the decisive shot, a two-run homer that just sailed over the left field fence into an erupting crowd.

Perhaps in a night game, Pagan’s homer would have landed in the glove of the left fielder Raburn, but not on this Independence Day. Calling back memories of Candlestick Park, Bochy noted that balls were drifting fifteen or twenty feet further than normal and outfielders repeatedly lost balls in the sun.

Peavy’s outing was a big boost for a depleted bullpen that was ravaged in the previous series against Arizona. “He got pretty high up there in his pitch count and still maintained his command and stuff,” Bochy said. “He did a good job of going out there and giving guys a break.”

One pitcher who didn’t need a break was reliever Sergio Romo, who hadn’t pitched since April 10th after suffering a flexor strain. Romo entered in the eighth to a raucous ovation and got one out before giving up a double to noted Giant killer Nolan Arenado. Dating back to the beginning of last season, Arenado has 13 homers and 42 RBI’s against the Giants, tops by any player against any opponent in that span, so it wasn’t completely out of the ordinary.

“He looked normal, so that’s a good sign,” Posey said.

The Giants will need Romo at top form if they want to keep up their elite play — their bullpen ranks 26th in the majors in WAR as of Monday.

Cover Image: San Francisco Giants pitcher Jake Peavy works against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning of a baseball game Monday, July 4, 2016, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)