JANIE McCAULEY
AP Baseball Writer
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Four errors. A balk that scored a run. A manager ejected and an irate starting pitcher.
The San Francisco Giants largely cost themselves a close game because of mistakes, losing 3-2 to the Colorado Rockies on Monday night.
Rookie Tyler Matzek outdueled Jake Peavy (2-4), who had won his previous two starts following three straight losses after being acquired in a trade from Boston on July 26.
“We certainly didn’t play our best baseball tonight. I could have done things better,” Peavy said. “Yeah, you’re frustrated. I think you guys saw that unfortunately. I’m an emotional guy and it’s all directed at wanting to win and wanting to be as good as we can be as a team. We certainly could have done better all the way around tonight, starting with me.”
San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy was ejected in the eighth by plate umpire Doug Eddings for arguing a called third strike on Buster Posey. Bochy removed his hat in frustration from the dugout and got tossed before he even got out to argue. He left to chants of “Bochy! Bochy!”
“That’s a critical pitch,” Bochy said. “You got Posey up there and that’s a tough way to end that at-bat.”
Matzek struck out seven in seven innings to end a five-start losing streak and help the Rockies to a three-game winning streak.
Colorado also has won four straight games in San Francisco for the first time in club history, kicking off a stretch of 13 straight games against the NL West with an impressive victory.
“It’s been a house of horrors for us for a long time,” manager Walt Weiss said. “It’s great to see us winning some games here, some tight games, some games that in the past we used to lose, those one-run games like tonight.”
Matzek did his part, and his defense turned four double plays.
Justin Morneau and Corey Dickerson hit sacrifice flies for the Rockies, who earned just their fourth road win in 27 games since sweeping a three-game series at AT&T Park from June 13-15.
Adam Ottavino pitched a scoreless eighth and LaTroy Hawkins finished for his 21st save in 22 opportunities.
Colorado tied it in the fourth following consecutive wild throws for errors by shortstop Brandon Crawford, then Peavy’s balk that scored a run. Crawford’s 20 errors lead the majors at his position.
“I was just picking my leg up. Morneau couldn’t have timed it any better,” Peavy said. “As I was picking my leg up he started to go and everybody (was saying) ‘step off, step off.’ I tried to hop off the back of the mound.”
Andrew Susac homered for the Giants, who missed a chance at their first three-game home winning streak since taking five straight from May 28-June 8.
They saved a run on replay review in the seventh.
Bochy challenged that D.J. LeMahieu beat Susac’s tag on a close play at the plate. Right fielder Hunter Pence threw home on Charlie Blackmon’s two-out single.
The call was overturned in 2 minutes, 48 seconds, ending the inning. Peavy was irate initially.
“A crazy night all the way around,” Peavy said.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Rockies INF Nolan Arenado was named NL Player of the Week after going 12 for 22 with a pair of home runs and three RBIs. “It means a lot,” Arenado said. “It’s nice to be noticed when you have some success. The credit goes to my teammates for me getting the opportunities.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rockies: C Wilin Rosario was not in the starting lineup for the fourth straight day with a sore left wrist. He tested the injury before the game in the batting cage. “I’m still feeling it, but it’s not as bad as it was,” he said. “Any day could be the day (to return).”
Giants: 2B Marco Scutaro will miss the remainder of the season with a recurring strained back that has limited him to five games all season. He is home in Florida resting. … 1B Brandon Belt (concussion) won’t do baseball activity for another couple of weeks. He hasn’t played since Aug. 6. C Hector Sanchez was in Pittsburgh being evaluated for his own concussion.
UP NEXT
Rockies: LHP Jorge De La Rosa (13-8, 4.21 ERA) looks to win his third straight start. He has lost his last four to San Francisco.
Giants: LHP Madison Bumgarner (14-9, 3.17) makes his fifth start of 2014 against the Rockies having gone 1-1. He struck out nine in seven innings vs. Colorado last time, in a no-decision June 15 at AT&T Park.
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