San Francisco Giants hitter Tommy La Stella takes Colorado Rockies pitcher Chad Kuhl deep in the first inning at Coors Field in Denver on Tue May 17, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Tuesday, May 17, 2022

Tommy La Stella made his return to the San Francisco starting lineup a memorable one on Tuesday, as the Giants held on for a 10-7 win over Colorado in Denver.

The wild 3-hour, 40-minute win was the Giants’ 12th straight over an opponent, going back to last season. This streak equals the team’s longest winning streak over an opponent since the New York Giants defeated Philadelphia 12 consecutive times in 1945 and 1946.

Eight of the Giants’ 12 wins against Colorado have been at Coors Field.

La Stella, who was on the injured list with an Achilles injury, opened the game with a 464-foot home run to right off Rockies starter Chad Kuhl to lead off the game. It was La Stella’s sixth career leadoff home run – his fourth as a Giant.

The Giants’ bats didn’t stop there. In the second, Brandon Crawford tripled and scored on a throwing error. In the top o the third, Mike Yastrzemski hit a two-run double, and Darin Ruf and Thairo Estrada added RBI singles. In the top of the fourth, Ruf struck again with a two-run double.

Run-scoring singles by Crawford and Estrada in the sixth made it 10-2 in favor of the Giants.
San Francisco’s 10-2 lead after 5½ innings began to evaporate in the bottom of the sixth, when the Rockies scored five times.

After C.J. Cron and Ryan McMahon delivered RBI singles, Randal Grichuk capped the rally with a three-run homer to left, pulling the Rox to within 10-7.

Despite being responsible for all seven of Colorado’s runs, Alex Cobb (3-1) picked up the win, despite giving up 10 hits and a walk. The Giants’ bullpen delivered 3 2/3 shutout innings to preserve the win.

John Brebbia, Tyler Rogers and Dominic Leone shut down Colorado on a collective two hits, and Camilo Doval struck out one and walked two in a scoreless ninth to earn his seventh save.
Kuhl (3-2) gave up six runs – five of them earned – in three innings.

La Stella and Crawford were 3-for-5 as the Giants collected 14 hits. Cron was 3-for-5 to lead the Rockies’ 12-hit attack.

The Giants and Rockes wrap up their three-game set on Wednesday afternoon. Logan Webb (5-1, 3.48) starts for San Francisco, facing Colorado starter Kyle Freeland (1-4, 4.91). First pitch is at 11:10 PDT.