Tyler Rogers allows costly homer in Giants 5-2 loss to Rockies

Things looked worrisome early for Giants starting pitcher Ross Stripling. Kris Bryant hit a dribbler through the middle of the infield that was just beyond second baseman Casey Schmitt's glove for a one-out single. Stripling immediately paid for the bad luck. On the 10th pitch of a grueling face off against Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon, Stripling left a sinker right down the middle of the plate. McMahon launched the pitch over the left-center field wall for a two-run homer.

Stripling was able to avoid surrendering any more runs over his remaining 3.1 innings of work, but the veteran righty narrowly escaped a jam in the top of the second. Rockies designated hitter Randal Grichuk doubled with one out in the inning and advanced to third on a single by Harold Castro. Stripling, though, induced an inning-ending double play to escape without allowing a run.

Rockies starting pitcher Austin Gomber entered play on Sunday with a 6.27 ERA, but the 29-year-old lefty cruised through five shutout innings, only allowing a couple of hits and a few hard-hit balls. He was not overpowering the Giants lineup. He only had one strikeout and three swinging strikes at that point in the night, but he was deviating from expectations, throwing his four-seam fastball 91% of the time in the first five innings.

By the bottom of the sixth, the Giants adjusted to Gomber's tendency and were finally able to do some damage. Second baseman Casey Schmitt started the rally with a line drive single into left field that recorded an exit velocity north of 100 mph. Then, shortstop Brandon Crawford blasted a 3-2 pitch at the top of the zone over the right-field wall for a game-tying home run.

Gomber seemed a bit out of sorts following the home run. After hitting Austin Slater with a pitch, Gomber allowed a base hit to Wilmer Flores. All three hits in the inning had an exit velocity of at least 100 mph and all three came against Gomber's four-seam fastball.

The Rockies escaped the inning without falling behind, though. LaMonte Wade Jr. attempted a sacrifice bunt, committing the first out in the inning on a fielder's choice. Then, J.D. Davis just missed another four-seam fastball from Gomber, skying the pitch into shallow center field. For some reason, Slater and third-base coach Mark Hallberg made the brash decision to challenge center fielder Brenton Doyle's arm. Doyle, who has a plus arm, easily threw out Slater at the plate to end the inning.

Stripling retired the last six batters he faced before manager Gabe Kapler went to the bullpen. Stripling finished his outing with three strikeouts and zero walks across 3.2 innings pitched, having surrendered a pair of runs on three hits.

Lefty Scott Alexander entered, allowing one hit across 0.2 shutout innings of work before rookie swingman Tristan Beck (Giants Top 16 Prospect) took the mound. Beck continued building on his underrated rookie campaign, allowing one infield single in 1.2 scoreless innings pitched.

With the game tied heading into the seventh, Kapler replaced Beck with his top left-handed reliever, Taylor Rogers. The back of the Giants' bullpen has been one of the best in MLB this season, particularly over the past two months. Facing the cellar-dweller Rockies, San Francisco seemed to be in the driver's seat.

While Rogers recorded two outs, he issued a pair of walks. With young right-handed hitter Ezequiel Tovar due up, Kapler called upon Rogers' twin brother Tyler Rogers to try and end the rally. Instead, Tovar sat on a rising slider from the right-handed submariner for a three-run home run.

Rockies manager Bud Black turned to his bullpen in the bottom of the seventh after retaking the lead, and the Giants never threatened again. With a three-run deficit, recently recalled reliever Mauricio Llovera made his first MLB appearance of the season. Llovera looked good, allowing a pair of hits in two shutout innings with three strikeouts.

The bullpen will take the blame for this loss, but the Giants' offense arguably deserves as much responsibility. Facing one of the least effective starting pitchers in MLB and one of the worst teams, the Giants managed just one run-scoring rally. That performance continued a much more concerning recent trend, and one that needs to be corrected.

With the loss, the SF Giants fell to 47-41 on the season. They will look to salvage an opportunity to win the series on Saturday afternoon. The team has not yet announced their starting pitcher. Whoever makes the start will square up against Rockies righty Connor Seabold. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 PM Pacific.