(SportsNetwork.com) – Tim Hudson hopes for a little run support on Tuesday
when the San Francisco Giants resume a three-game set with the Colorado
Rockies at AT&T Park.
Hudson struggled with his control on Thursday in San Diego, but didn’t give up
a run over 6 1/3 innings, despite walking five batters. It was the most free
passes he had issued since June 19, 2012.
The Giants, though, didn’t push a run across for him and he received a no-
decision in the team’s 1-0 win.
Hudson has faced the Rockies 15 times and is 5-2 with a 4.32 ERA against them.
San Francisco celebrated its latest World Series title on Monday, then
proceeded to lose its home opener, as Eddie Butler escaped several jams to
throw 5 1/3 scoreless innings and combined with five Colorado relievers on a
five-hitter in the Rockies’ 2-0 win.
Butler (1-0) worked around six walks and five hits allowed by continuing San
Francisco’s recent struggles in clutch situations, with the Giants stranding a
total of 12 runners en route to a fourth straight loss.
The Rockies, who lost a franchise record 60 games away from home last season,
are now 4-0 on the road to start the season. They’ve never won their first
five as the visitor to open a year.
San Francisco went 0-of-7 with runners in scoring position and is hitting an
anemic .091 (3-of-33) in such situations during its skid.
“Hitting is contagious. Sometimes, you just need that big two-out hit, or that
double in the gap with runners on first and second, to get things rolling,”
said Giants catcher Buster Posey.
Chris Heston (1-1) pitched well for a second straight start in place of an
injured Matt Cain, with the rookie yielding two runs — one earned — and
striking out five over seven innings in a hard-luck outcome.
Nori Aoki finished 2-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to 16 games for the
Giants, who have lost four in a row.
“It’s so early in the season,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “You’re going to go
through these streaks, it might be pitching, it might be hitting, defense …
You just stay behind them, keep working. That’s all you can do. It’s nothing
you can force.”
Colorado righty Christian Bergman makes the start on Tuesday after picking up
a win in relief on Friday with a scoreless inning against the Chicago Cubs. He
made 10 starts for the Rox in 2014 and was 3-5 with a 5.93 ERA.
Colorado was 10-9 versus the Giants last season.
