San Francisco starter Kyle Harrison pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in Denver on Tue May 7, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

After getting swept by the Philadelphia Phillies this past weekend the San Francisco Giants (16-21) got back on track on the road in Colorado winning the first game of the series defeating the Colorado Rockies (8-27). A slow first three innings turned into a terrific fourth inning for the Giants scoring four runs. San Francisco had another run in the seventh inning for a final of 5-0.

Game recap: Neither team got much going through the first three innings. The Giants had a couple of hits in the first three innings but were unable to string any hits together. Jung Hoo Lee singled in the first inning and Mike Yastrzemski doubled in the second and that was about it for San Francisco. The Rockies walked four runners in the opening innings. San Francisco was about to turn this game around.

It was a terrific fourth inning for the Giants. They had a couple of infield singles plus a couple of outfield singles and when the dust had settled San Francisco had a 4-0 lead. The first infield single brought Matt Chapman home for the first run of the game. 1-0. A Thairo Estrada ground out was good for a second run. LaMonte Wade Jr and Michael Conforto both singled bringing two runners home for a 4-run inning.

San Francisco added another run in the seventh innings now leading 5-0. Conforto singled Estrada home. The Giants Kyle Harrison had a great seven innings on the mound finishing with 85 pitches. He had seven shutout innings in his first appearance at Coors Field.

Harrison handled the altitude like a pro which is always a challenge at Coors. Ryan Walker relieved Harrison in the eighth inning finishing the inning with no hits, no runs, no walks and 3 strikeouts in an uneventful inning for the Rockies.

Camilo Doval came in to close this game in the ninth inning. He struggled to start walking two runners but came on strong finishing off the Rockies and completing the first win in this series for San Francisco.

Game notes: After a rough series the past four days against the Phillies the Giants traveled to rocky mountain country taking on Colorado for a three-game series. The Giants really struggled against the top-dog in MLB getting swept in the four game series with Philadelphia. Tuesday night they took on the Rockies that shares the basement with the White Sox and got a win to open the series in Colorado.

The Rockies have had an awful start to the 2024 season after a disappointing 2023 season. Kyle Harrison for the Giants pitched seven innings, four hits, two walks, and two strikeouts for the win and for the Rockies Dakota Hudson picked up the loss pitching 3.2 innings, five hits, four earned runs, walked five and struck out two. The Giants went into this series with high hopes and were able to win it to open the series.

Game two Wednesday: In this second game will feature Jordan Hicks on the mound for San Francisco with a 2-1, 1.89 ERA. Peter Lambert will start for the Rockies with a 2-1 5.66 ERA. First pitch in this game is scheduled for 5:40 PM.