Jorge Soler hits MLB season-best 478-foot HR, Birdsong strikes out 12 as Giants beat Rockies 3-2
Jorge Soler led off the game with the major leagues’ longest home run of the season, a 478-foot shot to center field, rookie Hayden Birdsong struck out a career-high 12 batters, and the San Francisco Giants beat the Colorado Rockies 3-2
DENVER — DENVER (AP) — Jorge Soler opened the game with the longest home run In the major leagues this season, rookie Hayden Birdsong had a career-high 12 strikeouts, and the San Francisco Giants beat the Colorado Rockies 3-2 on Sunday.
Soler hit the fourth pitch of the game 478 feet to center field for his 11th home run of the season, giving the Giants an early lead. Tyler Fitzgerald led off the third inning with his second home run of the series and fourth of the year, and Matt Chapman scored on a passed ball in the fourth inning to give San Francisco a 3-0 lead it never relinquished.
Birdsong (2-0), making his fifth career start, didn’t allow a hit until Brendan Rodgers’ two-out, two-run homer in the fourth inning. The 22-year-old right-hander walked one in six innings, his longest outing since he was selected on June 26. He had the most strikeouts by a San Francisco pitcher this season.
Camilo Doval got the last three outs for his 18th save.
Bob Melvin, Giants manager wasn’t there to see the victory after being ejected before the first pitch after he and bench coach Ryan Christensen delivered the lineup to home plate umpire Alex MacKay.
Colorado failed to win the series on the day franchise icon Todd Helton was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Helton’s speech was broadcast on the big scoreboard about 30 minutes before first pitch Sunday.
Helton is the only player elected to the Hall of Fame after spending his entire career with the Rockies.
Colorado starter Ryan Feltner (1-10) struck out six batters in seven solid innings but remains winless since April 12, a stretch of 17 starts.
TRAINERS’ ROOM
Giants: Right-handed pitcher Alex Cobb (hip/shoulder) pitched five scoreless innings for Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday night. Cobb has been on the 60-day disabled list since March 25.
Rockies: Catcher Elias Diaz was not in the lineup after leaving Saturday night’s game with what manager Bud Black described as a “little calf strain.”
FOLLOWING
Giants: Left-handed pitcher Blake Snell (0-3, 6.31 ERA) is expected to be activated from the disabled list to open a series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night. Snell has been on the disabled list since June 3 with a strained left groin.
Rockies: Left-handed pitcher Austin Gomber (2-6, 4.61 ERA) opens a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox on Monday night.
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