The San Francisco Giants will seek another victory at home Sunday when they go for a third win in their four-game series against the Colorado Rockies.
Giants ace Logan Webb (3-2, 2.83) is scheduled to be opposed by struggling Rockies right-hander German Marquez (0-5, 9.82) as San Francisco, beaten 4-3 in the series opener Thursday, goes for a third consecutive victory.
Matt Chapman has been a driving force in the two Giants wins, homering to close out his team’s scoring in a 4-0 triumph Friday and smacking a grand slam to cap a five-run sixth inning in a 6-3 victory on Saturday.
The Giants have totaled just 12 hits in the two wins, but manager Bob Melvin reminded everyone afterward: It’s when, not how many.
“A lot of his home runs and a lot of his hits have been impactful,” he said of Chapman, whose 1-for-3 day improved his average to just .205 but with seven home runs and 21 RBIs. “We have quite a few guys who we feel like we can get more from offensively. But pretty timely hit today. Hopefully it’ll boost his confidence some at the plate.”
With a shot at a fourth series win in five at home so far this season, the Giants would love nothing better than to break out in the finale against Marquez, who began the weekend tied for the National League lead in losses.
The 30-year-old has served up six or more earned runs in each of his past four starts. He is coming off a 5 1/3-inning outing Tuesday at home against the Atlanta Braves in which he gave up seven runs and a season-worst 11 hits.
Somewhat surprisingly, Marquez was upbeat afterward, noting, “I changed my delivery a little bit, and I felt good. Everything was right there. I have to take it and keep going.”
He’s looking forward potentially to improving upon some ugly career numbers against the Giants, against whom he’s gone 5-10 with a 6.62 ERA in 17 starts.
“I’ve been battling,” he said. “It’s kind of frustrating, but every outing is an opportunity to make a good start. I don’t have the results. I have to keep working and get better.”
Webb, on the other hand, has feasted upon the Rockies over the years, going 8-3 with a 3.23 ERA in 16 head-to-heads (15 starts). The eight wins are his most against any opponent.
Like Marquez, Webb also was at his season’s worst in his most recent start, Tuesday at San Diego. He was tagged with the loss in a 7-4 defeat, allowing five runs and nine hits in just five innings.
Both pitchers likely have undergone a confidence boost watching the first three games in the series.
The Rockies have totaled just 16 hits in the three games, including none for extra bases in either of their two losses. Four of their seven runs in the series came in Thursday’s 4-3 win.
At 6-27, the Rockies have the worst record in the major leagues. Just a little over a month into the season, they already are 17 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West.
– Field Level Media
