Hayden Birdsong followers 12 as Giants edge Rockies

Jorge Soler homered among his two hits, Tyler Fitzgerald also went deep, and the San Francisco Giants beat the Colorado Rockies 3-2 in Denver on Sunday.

Hayden Birdsong (2-0) struck out a career-high 12 batters in just his fifth major league start. He kept Colorado hitless until the fourth inning and finished the day allowing just two hits in six innings. He ended the longest start of his season with a strikeout of Michael Toglia for the third time, all swinging.

San Francisco was able to avoid the sweep, but manager Bob Melvin wasn’t around. He was ejected before the game by home plate umpire Alex MacKay.

Giants closer Camilo Doval walked a batter with two outs in the ninth before getting Jacob Stallings on a groundout to third to notch his 18th save in 22 chances.

Brendan Rodgers homered for Colorado, which had its three-game winning streak snapped, matching the second longest by the club this season. The Rockies struck out 15 times and managed just four hits against four San Francisco pitchers.

Soler opened the game with his 11th homer of the season, a 478-foot shot to dead center that is the longest in the majors this season. Fitzgerald made it 2-0 with a solo homer leading off the third inning, his fourth of the season and second in the series.

The Giants manufactured a run in the fourth. Matt Chapman and Mike Yastrzemski hit two-out singles to put runners on the corners, and catcher Stallings’ passed ball brought home Chapman.

Colorado got to Birdsong in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Ryan McMahon walked for the second time, and after Birdsong fanned Toglia, Rodgers hit his seventh homer of the season just over the fence in left.

Rockies hard-luck starter Ryan Feltner (1-10) was shaky early but retired nine of the final 10 batters he faced. Feltner, who is winless in 17 straight starts, allowed three runs — two earned — and struck out six in seven innings.

–Field Level Media