Giants Defeat Rockies, Wrap Up Spring Training In Arizona
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (CBS / AP) -- Jorge De La Rosa tuned up for his opening-day start with six shutout innings for the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday, but Hector Sanchez hit a game-ending two-run homer to give the San Francisco Giants an 8-6 win.
De La Rosa, 16-6 in 30 starts for the Rockies in 2013, gave up just three hits, walked one and struck out seven against the Giants.
Right-hander Matt Cain, the Giants' No. 2 starter, continued his up-and-down spring by pitching five innings and giving up six runs on nine hits while walking three and striking out a batter.
Trailing 6-2, the Giants rallied to tie it in the eighth on a grand slam by minor league outfielder Jarrett Parker.
STARTING TIME
Rockies: De La Rosa has been inconsistent this spring, but worked on his mechanics since his previous start on Friday.
"I had better rhythm," he said. "I just wanted to try to pitch the way I pitched last year, but I try not to think too much. I want to keep going, do the things I did today."
Giants: Manager Bruce Bochy thought that Cain was leaving his off-speed pitches up, but that he also was having trouble gripping the ball.
"They talked about the wind today, but I think all of the pitchers were having trouble gripping the ball," Bochy said.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Giants: Second baseman Marco Scutaro and left-handed relief specialist Jeremy Affeldt will begin the season on the disabled list. Scutaro has been dealing with back issues since last season. He had just two at-bats this spring (one hit) in between epidural injections. Both shots had limited effectiveness, as did a diagnostic nerve block injection. He also had an injection of cortisone. Scutaro will remain in Scottsdale for further treatment and a timetable for his return is uncertain, Bochy said. Joaquin Arias likely will get most of the playing time at second in Scutaro's absence.
Affeldt will be out a minimum of 10 days to two weeks, Bochy said, after straining the medial collateral ligament in his right knee during a game on Saturday.
Affeldt had other medical issues over the winter and was trying to work his way back to form. Bochy did not seem too pleased when describing the latest setback: "He wasn't wearing his brace."
Catcher Buster Posey was a pre-game scratch on Wednesday with minor hamstring tightness. Posey told Bochy he could play, but Bochy said no, considering the team was traveling back to the Bay Area on Wednesday night to prepare for its three-game Bay Bridge exhibition series against the Oakland A's on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Third baseman Pablo Sandoval did not play against the Rockies after sustaining a laceration on his palm while running the bases on Tuesday.
ROCKIES LOOK AHEAD
The Rockies will have Thursday off before finishing their Cactus League season with games against Seattle on Friday and Saturday. The team will begin the regular season on the road against the Miami Marlins on Monday night.
HELP FOR GIANTS
The Giants will take the following minor leaguers with them to get some extra playing time in the Bay Bridge Series -- right-handers Erik Cordier and Heath Hembree, left-hander Dan Runzler, infielder Chris Dominguez and catcher Guillermo Quiroz.
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