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Pence's 3 Doubles Help Lift Giants Over Rockies 8-3

DENVER (CBS/AP) -- Hunter Pence had three of a record-tying eight doubles for San Francisco, and the Giants beat the Colorado Rockies 8-3 on Sunday.

Pence's double in the eighth helped the Giants equal a mark accomplished four times since the Giants moved to San Francisco after the 1957 season. Denard Span hit his first homer since April 4 as part of a 17-hit attack.

Johnny Cueto (8-1) allowed two runs—one earned—and six hits to become the first Giants pitcher to win at least eight of his first 11 starts since Shawn Estes in 1997.

The usually mild-mannered and fast-working Cueto became a little agitated in the third after Gerardo Parra called a last-second timeout. When Parra lined into an inning-ending double play, Cueto appeared to say something to Parra, with Parra glaring back. It didn't escalate.

Chris Rusin (1-3) allowed six runs and 11 hits in five innings.

Rusin moved into the starting rotation for Jorge De La Rosa, who has been sent to the bullpen. Rusin hung an 83 mph cutter to Span in the fourth, the first homer he's allowed in 41 2/3 innings dating to last season.

Pence had a big afternoon with a career-high three doubles—with each driving in a run.

Handed a lead after Cueto's solid performance, the Giants bullpen made it hold up. The only run allowed was a homer by Carlos Gonzalez in the eighth estimated to have gone 456 feet had it landed unimpeded. The day before, San Francisco's bullpen squandered a late lead before the team rallied.

It was a rather forgettable day for Parra, who had a baserunning blunder in the second. He attempted to tag up from second on a fly to center, only to be thrown out at third by Span.

That was immediately followed by Trevor Story's solo homer that cut the Giants lead to 2-1. It was Story's 14th homer this season, tying him with Nolan Arenado for the team lead.

Later, Parra got into a little spat with Cueto. Parra held his hand up for time, which was granted, and so Cueto waited. Parra did it again and Cueto threw his hands up in exasperation, before stepping off the mound and taking a stroll to cool down. He then retired Parra and appeared to say something as Parra ran down the baseline.

Cueto struck out Parra when they faced each other in the sixth. Cueto didn't make eye contact with Parra.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Giants: Manager Bruce Bochy hasn't said who will start Wednesday after RHP Matt Cain went on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring. The top candidate is righty Albert Suarez.

Rockies: C Nick Hundley (strained oblique) is expected to soon start a rehab assignment.

WARRIORS RALLY

After watching his team rally for a road win Saturday afternoon, Bochy watched Golden State do the same thing that night. The defending champion Warriors forced a seventh game in the Western Conference final with a 108-101 victory over Oklahoma City.

The Warriors host Game 7 on Monday night. The Giants play a game in Atlanta that afternoon.

UP NEXT

Giants: RHP Jeff Samardzija (7-2) is to make his 11th start of the season when the Giants open a four-game series in Atlanta on Monday. He is 2-1 with a 2.81 ERA in 10 games (four starts) against the Braves.

Rockies: RHP Chad Bettis looks to get back on track Monday against Cincinnati. Bettis threw a season-low 4 2-3 innings in a loss at Boston last Wednesday.

© Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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