Ryan Vogelsong lofted a pitch deep to right and slowly circled the bases. He had just hit his first career home run, but when Vogelsong got back to the dugout, he never flashed even a hint of a smile. Vogelsong was at Coors Field to keep the Giants in the game with his arm, not his bat, and he wasn’t able to do it.
Vogelsong gave up four runs before his homer and four more after as the Giants fell 11-3 in the first of four games at Coors Field. The Giants have lost six straight and they’re 0-4 on this long 10-game trip.
The trouble started early. The Rockies hit around and got a two-run homer from Carlos Gonzalez in the first inning, going up 4-0. Vogelsong got two runs back in the third, but a throwing error helped the Rockies make it 5-2 after three. Vogelsong wouldn’t make it out of the fourth, giving up three more hits before being pulled with no outs. The Rockies scored four in the inning, getting a second homer from Gonzalez.
[PAVLOVIC: Giants will start Heston on Friday, hoping for his 'best shot']
No lead is safe at Coors Field, or at least that’s what they say. But the Giants managed just about nothing against lefty Chris Rusin, who pitched his second career complete game.
Starting pitching report: Vogelsong’s three innings: 11 hits, eight runs, seven earned runs. He tied his career-highs in hits and runs allowed.
Bullpen report: Cody Hall made his MLB debut in the seventh inning and worked around two singles. His second inning was a bit rougher; Gonzalez singled and Nolan Arenado hit a moonshot of a homer. Hall sat 94-96 with his fastball. He was in big league camp this year and should have an outside shot at winning a job next spring.
At the plate: Vogelsong’s first career homer came in his 350th big-league plate appearance. He kept his game face on, but he made sure to savor the home run trot. It took Vogelsong 26 seconds to get around the bases.
In the field: Charlie Blackmon made a diving catch to rob the Giants of a hit. Charlie Blackmon always seems to make a diving catch to rob the Giants of a hit.
Up next: Chris Heston gets another shot in the rotation. He’ll face veteran left-hander Jorge De La Rosa.
