SAN FRANCISCO — It took a strange game for Tyler Matzek to win for the first time on the road and for his first victory against a NL West opponent.
Justin Morneau and Corey Dickerson each drove in a run, Morneau and D.J. LeMahieu collected two hits and the Rockies beat the San Francisco Giants 3-2 to extend their winning streak at AT&T Park to a franchise-best four games.
“The last time we were here, we were able to get the sweep,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss said before the game. “I think we exorcized our demons. These games are always intense.”
The demons decided to play havoc with the Giants instead.
“We’re getting rewarded for our hustle,” Weiss said afterward. “We’ve turned it around a little bit here. The way games go here, it doesn’t surprise me.”
Matzek (3-9) pitched seven strong innings, allowing two runs on eight hits. He struck out seven and walked two.
“It’s good to go out and help the team win,” Matzek said. “It’s good to work deep into the game.”
Adam Ottavino pitched the eighth, and Latroy Hawkins worked the ninth for his 21st save in 22 chances.
“That’s his third night in a row,” Weiss said. “We’re kind of pushing the envelope a little bit. Hawk answered the bell again.”
PHOTOS: The Colorado Rockies vs. the San Francisco Giants
Charlie Blackmon’s hustle in the first inning turned into a run without benefit of a hit. He reached on a throwing error by second baseman Joe Panik, went to second on Drew Stubbs’ flyout to left, advanced to third when Jake Peavey’s pickoff attempt went awry and scored on Morneau’s sacrifice fly.
“It’s important to play the game like that,” Blackmon said. “I don’t know if it was a bad throw or not, but I like putting pressure on them. When you do that, you’re likely to score runs.”
The Giants matched that run in the first and added another in the second on Andrew Susac’s homer, the seventh in eight road games allowed by Matzek.
Strange things continued to happen in the fourth, resulting in Colorado regaining the advantage.
Drew Stubbs reached on a throwing error by shortstop Brandon Crawford and got all the way to second base. Morneau followed with an infield single to Crawford, who mishandled the ball, allowing Stubbs to reach third.
Peavy stumbled off the mound when Morneau took off for second a little early and was charged with a balk, allowing Stubbs to score. Morneau scored on Dickerson’s sacrifice fly.
“He thought he had the timing down,” Weiss said. “He didn’t mean to take off early.”
The weirdness continued in the Rockies’ seventh. With two out, LeMahieu singled and Matzek walked. Blackmon singled to right field, and LeMahieu was ruled safe at the plate on a close call by home umpire Doug Eddings.
Replays appeared to support Eddings’ decision, but the ruling was overturned after a review.
While the Giants were arguing the call on LeMahieu, Blackmon wisely kept going, drawing a throw to second. Matzek then tried to score and was clearly thrown out. Only that last part didn’t count.
“That was a weird inning,” Blackmon said. “I thought everybody was so caught up in the play at the plate I could take off for second without anyone noticing. There’s a list of plays that I don’t think I’ve ever seen and that definitely gets added to it.”
The Rockies, winners of seven of their last 10, made sure it didn’t matter.
Peavey (2-4) usually has trouble with the Rockies but not this night. He gave up three runs, only one of which was earned, on six hits in his seven innings. He walked one and struck out five.
Looking ahead
Rockies’ Jorge De La Rosa (13-8, 4.21 ERA) at Giants’ Madison Bumgarner (14-9, 3.17), 8:15 p.m. Tuesday, ROOT; 850 AM
De La Rosa is not only pitching for the best season of his career, he’s making a statement about his future. He has a chance to win 17 games — bettering his 16-win seasons in 2009 and 2013 — and increase his free-agent value at the end of the season. The Rockies face a decision about whether to try to re-sign the left-hander, while other teams will judge his value down the stretch. In 23 games (20 starts) against San Francisco, De La Rosa is 9-5 with a 4.09 ERA.
Wednesday: Rockies’ Franklin Morales (5-7, 5.32 ERA) at Giants’ Tim Hudson (9-9, 2.99), 8:15 p.m., ROOT
Thursday: Rockies’ Jordan Lyles (6-1, 4.05) at Giants’ Tim Lincecum (10-9, 4.64), 1:45 p.m., ROOT
Friday: Rockies’ Christian Bergman (1-2, 6.75) at Diamondbacks’ Josh Collmenter (9-7, 4.05) 7:40 p.m., ROOT
Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
