Homers By Pence, Sandoval Help Giants Defeat Rockies
DENVER (CBS / AP) -- Hunter Pence and Pablo Sandoval hit back-to-back homers and Yusmeiro Petit won his first game in four years, helping the San Francisco Giants beat the Colorado Rockies 5-3 on Tuesday night.
Pence and Sandoval went deep in the opening inning, marking the first time all season the Giants have hit back-to-back homers.
Brandon Belt kept up his torrid hitting with four singles. He also scored twice to help San Francisco win for the third time in four games.
Petit (1-0) was recently called up from Triple-A Fresno to fill in for Matt Cain, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list last week with a bruised right forearm.
Petit lasted six innings, allowed six hits and two runs. He also struck out six.
Sergio Romo pitched a perfect ninth to pick up his 32nd save in 36 chances.
Chad Bettis (0-3) settled down after a rough start, allowing four runs and nine hits over six innings. Bettis, who didn't pitch last season after hurting his right shoulder, is still searching for his first major league victory.
Troy Tulowitzki returned to the lineup for the Rockies after sitting out the past two games with a sore oblique. The smooth-fielding shortstop finished 1 for 3 with a run scored. The Rockies were without Dexter Fowler, who sat out with a bruised knee.
Given his roots as a reliever, Petit pitched out of the stretch even with no one on base.
He also pitched his way out of trouble on several occasions as he earned his first major league win since beating the Giants on Aug. 27, 2009, as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
In the fourth, Petit loaded the bases with two outs, only to wiggle out of the jam by fanning Bettis with a low slider.
An inning earlier, Petit struck out Corey Dickerson and enticed DJ LeMahieu to fly out to strand a runner at third.
Just that kind of night for the Rockies, who finished 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position.
Pence put the Giants on the board early when he hit a two-run homer that cleared the top row of seats in left. Three pitches later, Sandoval lined a slider over the fence in center.
Before the game, Carlos Gonzalez provided some fireworks as he launched several pitches into the upper deck during batting practice. This with an injured middle right finger, too.
Gonzalez said his dinged-up digit is feeling better and hopes to soon leave for a rehab assignment. The All-Star has been on the disabled list since early August.
"It's something I can play through right now," Gonzalez said.
NOTES: Giants OF Andres Torres (bone spurs) is scheduled for season-ending surgery on Wednesday. ... OF Angel Pagan (left hamstring surgery) could be reinstated on Sept. 1. ... The Rockies activated C Yorvit Torrealba (concussion) from the seven-day disabled list. To make room, the team optioned utility player Ryan Wheeler to Triple-A Colorado Springs. ... The Rockies will send Jhoulys Chacin (12-7) to the mound on Wednesday, while the Giants counter with Madison Bumgarner (11-8).
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