SAN FRANCISCO — The Rockies’ road warrior finished in grand style Wednesday night at AT&T Park.
Tyler Chatwood, making his final start of the season, blanked the San Francisco Giants for eight superb innings and Colorado hung on for a 2-0 victory.
“I’m very happy, and proud of myself, for what I accomplished this year,” said Chatwood, who finished 12-9 in his first season since coming back from his second Tommy John surgery. “To be able to finish on this note was awesome.”
What Chatwood did on the road was historic.
In 13 road starts, he finished 8-1 with a 1.69 ERA. That road ERA is the lowest in the majors this season (minimum 70 innings pitched) and the lowest in Rockies history (minimum 80 innings). Colorado’s previous road ERA king was Jhoulys Chacin, who posted a 2.44 mark in 2013.
As usual, there were some nail-biting closing moments for the Rockies. Left-hander Boone Logan was called on to nail down the victory in the ninth because the Giants had string of left-handed batters coming up. But Logan immediately got torched for a leadoff double by right-hander pinch-hitter Kelby Tomlinson. Logan struck out pinch-hitter Gorkys Hernandez and then Denard Span. Brandon Belt hit a grounder to first baseman Gerardo Parra for what looked like the game-ender, but Logan didn’t cover the bag in time and Belt’s single kept the rally alive.
“Boone was a little late getting off the mound,” manager Walt Weiss said. “Parra made a great play, because that ball was hit hard … That was a tough moment, but we ended up getting the W.”
Into the fire came usual closer Adam Ottavino to face the dangerous Buster Posey. After an eight-pitch at-bat, Ottavino got Posey to groundout to third baseman Nolan Arenado to end the drama.
Chatwood (12-9) allowed only three hits, struck out a season-high nine and walked two. He was aided by two terrific throws by catcher Tony Wolters. Wolters threw out Span trying to steal second base in the first inning, then threw out Connor Gillaspie trying to swipe second in the third.
Chatwood also induced clutch double plays in the seventh and eighth, innings which began with leadoff walks. It was another clutch performance from a player who exceeded expectations.
“We couldn’t have imagined it going this well,” Weiss said. “This was, obviously, the best-case scenario — and then some. After the time ‘Chatty” missed, you are hoping he just gets through the season healthy. But the truth of the matter is, he’s been very durable, very reliable and very good.”
Colorado broke a five-game losing streak, as well as an eight-game road losing skid, and put a dent in the Giants’ playoff quest. The New York Mets’ victory over Miami, coupled with the Giants’ loss, left the Giants trailing the Mets by 1 ½ games for the top National League wild-card spot. The St. Louis Cardinals, who lost to Cincinnati, remain a game behind the Giants for the second wild-card spot.
“It’s a great opportunity for our young guys to be in these games, ” said Wolters, who’s in his first big-league season behind the plate. “Being able to slow the game down, and breathe, and not hear the crowd, it’s definitely a learning experience, but we want to win every game.
“We don’t want (the Giants) to make the playoffs. We are coming out here to get better every day. I thought we did a really good job tonight.”
Colorado broke the scoreless deadlock in the fourth using its formidable one-two punch of Carlos Gonzalez and Arenado. Gonzalez ripped an opposite-field double off starter Jeff Samardzija (12-11). The line drive nearly left the yard, but bounced off the left-field wall. Then Arenado looped a broken-bat single to center, easily scoring Gonzalez.
The RBI was Arenado’s 130th, tying his career high set last season. Arenado has also swatted 40 homers this season. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he joined Miguel Cabrera (2012-13) and Alex Rodriguez (2005, 2007) as the only players whose primary position was third base to have multiple 40-130 seasons. Also, Arenado joined Andres Galarraga (1996-97) and Todd Helton (2000-01) as the only Rockies players to have multiple 40-130 seasons.
“He’s off to quite a start in his career, and the things that he’s accomplished already are pretty amazing,” Weiss said. “Hopefully there is more to come.”
Arenado, however, failed to deliver in the sixth inning when the Rockies set the table with singles by Charlie Blackmon and Gonzalez. Arenado hit the ball hard, but right at Gillaspie at third, who started a 5-4-3 double play to end the mini-rally.
The Rockies chased Samardzija in the seventh on an opposite-field double to left by David Dahl, followed by an RBI single by Parra, extending the lead to 2-0.
Postgame Notes of Note
- Arenado joined an elite group of major-league players who had multiple 130-plus RBI seasons prior to turning age 26. Here’s the list: Joe DiMaggio (1937, 1938, 1940); Jimmie Foxx (1930, 1932, 1933); Lou Gehrig (1927, 1928); Hank Greenberg (1934, 1935); Chuck Klein (1929, 1930); Joe Medwick (1936, 1937); Mel Ott (1929, 1934); Hal Trosky (1934, 1936) and Ted Williams (1939, 1942) .
- The Giants were shut out for the 13th time this season, and nine of those 13 shutouts have come after the all-star break.
- Chatwood improved to 3-1 with a 2.12 in six career starts at AT&T Park. His ERA at AT&T is the fifth-lowest among active starting pitchers (minimum five starts). He is behind Clayton Kershaw (1.66), Jhoulys Chacin (1.41), Mat Latos (1.62) and Zack Greinke (1.66).
