Photo courtesy of San Francisco Giants. Michael Conforto and Joc Pederson celebrate Conforto’s home run on 7/8/23.

By Titus Wilkinson (@TitusWisme)

SAN FRANCISCO- The Giants and Rockies duked it out in the second of their three game series with San Francisco coming out on top by a final of 5-3.

Of note in today’s game was the wind as it was whipping around at 26 mph blowing towards the outfield certainly favoring the hitters.

Getting the start for the Giants was right-hander Ryan Walker while the Rockies had right-hander Connor Seabold start.

Walker’s first inning got off to a good start as he sat down the first two hitters but a Ryan McMahon single and Kris Bryant walk suddenly put the pressure on. The Rockies did not pass up on the opportunity as C.J. Cron singled to center field bringing home McMahon and making the score 1-0. After the run Randal Grichuk brought the inning to a close as he grounded out.

In the bottom of the first the Giants quickly got a response going as after Lamonte Wade Jr. flew out Joc Pederson doubled bringing up Wilmer Flores to the plate. He would fly out as well but Michael Conforto drove a pitch on the outside part of the plate to left field that just got over the wall getting a two run homer and giving the Giants the lead 2-1. Mike Yastrzemski walked as well but Patrick Bailey struck out bringing the inning to a close.

The Rockies got off to a slow start in the second as the first two batters went out quickly but the third batter of the inning was once again a problem for Walker. This time it was catcher and former Giant Austin Wynns who dug out a pitch from below the belt and drove it over the wall in left field tying the game back up at two with a solo homer.

In the bottom of the inning the Giants walked away with no runs as Brandon Crawford grounded into a double play.

The third saw a pitching change for the men in orange-and-black as Alex Wood came in to replace Walker. Ryan finished the game with two innings pitched, three hits, two earned runs, and four K’s.

The third and top of the fourth went by quietly until the bottom of the fourth when Bailey got things going with a lead-off double. Then the other rookie came up to the plate Blake Sabol and he singled to center field brining home Bailey and giving the Giants the lead 3-2. That would be all the runs in the inning though before it ended the Rockies made a pitching change bringing in Brad Hand to replace Seabold. Connor finished with 3.2 innings pitched, seven hits, two earned runs, and three K’s.

In the fifth inning Wilmer Flores doubled though he was originally called out but upon a review the call was overturned. Austin Slater then came in to pinch-hit for Yastrzemski and delivered with a shot to left center field that left the yard bringing San Francisco’s lead to 5-2.

The sixth inning saw more injury troubles for the Giants as Crawford grounded into a force out at second but while he was running to first he looked to be a little shaken up. After another Giant got out Gabe Kapler decided to take Crawford out and replace him with J.D. Davis. Once the game was over San Francisco informed the media that Crawford was dealing with left hamstring tightness.

In the eighth Tyler Rogers came in to replace Wood who exited the game with five innings pitched, three hits, one walk, and three K’s. Rogers had a little bit of an up-and-down inning as he quickly got the first two batters out but then Bryant got a double. Following that up Cron singled and Grichuk who’s been on fire for the Rockies singled as well bringing home Bryant making it 5-3. Thankfully for the Giants Rogers was able to close out the inning by getting Elias Diaz to pop out.

The ninth saw Camilo Doval come in to close out the game and he did just that striking out two and gettting the third batter to ground out getting the Giants the win 5-3.

Wood was given the win while Seabold took the loss.

The Giants will close out the series tomorrow against the Rockies at 1:05 p.m.