Colorado Rockies Sam Hilliard (left) and Mickey Moniak (right) give Orlando Arcia (center) the waterworks after Arcia’s walk off hit to defeat the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the ninth at Coors Field in Denver on Thu Jun 12, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

In an unlikely come back, the Colorado Rockies (12-55) won the third game of this series after trailing going into the ninth inning and beating the San Francisco Giants (40-28) 8-7. They scored three runs in the inning and this time it was the Rockies who had come from behind in a Thursday matinee at Coors Field in Denver.

Game recap: Rockies had their chances to beat one of the best teams in baseball today but could not close out either of the first two games in some very disappointing losses. This has been a terrible season for the Rockies and their fans and the empty seats say it all. Their relief pitching was a huge part of these losses.

San Francisco got on the board in the second inning scoring four runs for the early lead. It was the bottom of the Giants lineup that got this game underway. Tyler Fitzgerald sacrificed Mike Yastrzemski home for the opening run.

Logan Porter came to the plate and singled Dominic Smith home. Then along came the big hit, a single from Heliot Ramos, although a single it drove both Jung Hoo Lee and Porter home. When the dust had settled, San Francisco had put together a four run inning and led 4-0.

The Rockies scored a pair of runs in the fourth inning. Ryan Ritter singled to left field allowing both Brenton Doyle and Mickey Moniak to score and the Rockies had cut the Giants lead in half 4-2.

San Francisco pushed their lead back out in the fifth inning in a big way when Dominic Smith knocked his first long ball, a three run home run. Wilmer Flores and Mike Yastrzemski both scored giving San Francisco a 7-2 lead.

The Rockies pulled a bit closer when Mickey Moniak hit a home run in the sixth inning but they still had some work to do trailing 7-3. Colorado fought hard scoring two runs in the seventh inning when Thairo Estrada doubled and Sam Hilliard and Jordan Beck both scored; the Rockies had new life trailing 7-5.

San Francisco did not score in the top of the ninth inning but they still had the 7-5 lead and on the mound Randy Rodriguez was eager to close out this game. It did not go as planned.

It was a wild crazy finish for the Colorado Rockies in the bottom of the ninth inning. Randy Rodriguez walked a couple of runners and the Rockies had the bases loaded. Colorado pulled to within a run 7-6 when Brenton Doyle grounded into a fielder’s choice and Sam Hilliard scored a run plus San Francisco had a fielding error by third baseman Casey Schmitt.

The game had become very uncomfortable for the Giants at this point. With two outs it was not looking good for the Rockies but in a crazy turnaround, Colorado’s Orlando Arcia singled both Thairo Estrada and Ryan McMahon home and that was the ball game 8-7 in favor of the Rockies.

Colorado had avoided the sweep. Despite losing the series they did win the one game and it was heartening to see the joy on the faces of the Rockies as they raced onto the field in jubilation. They have had so little to celebrate this year.

Walks and errors killed the Giants in the ninth inning and reliever Randy Rodriguez did not have his finest game. They did win the series and came away with 11 hits in the game. Starting pitcher Hayden Birdsong pitched six innings allowing six hits, three runs, two walks and six strikeouts. Four relief pitchers worked hard to win this game but just came up short.

Game notes: Wednesday afternoon the Giants finished off their series with the Rockies and failed to get a sweep in game three. San Francisco has had two spectacular come-from-behind wins in game one and two but Thursday were looking to go into the latter innings with a lead instead of trailing. In Wednesday’s game the Rockies scored seven runs in the eighth and ninth innings for the win.

For Colorado starter Antonio Senzatela pitched four innings allowed nine hits, seven earned runs, three walks and two strikeouts. While Senzatela got shelled the offense came back for the win and got him some run support.

Friday a huge series begins for the Giants as they travel back to California for a three game series with the first place Los Angeles Dodgers. Logan Webb will take the mound for the Giants while the Dodgers plan on starting Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Webb has a 5-5 win/loss record and a 2.58 ERA and Yamamoto has a 6-4 win/loss record and a 2.20 ERA. This may come down to a pitcher’s duel in an exciting series that will determine first place in the National League West.