SAN FRANCISCO — Luis Matos hit a three-run home run and had a career-high six RBIs to continue his hitting streak, Matt Chapman went 4-for-4 and scored three runs and the San Francisco Giants used 18 hits to defeat the Colorado Rockies on Saturday.
The Giants have won three straight for the first time this season. They were the last team in the championships without a winning streak of three or more games.
“We’re swinging the bat really well and I think the vibe in the dugout is probably as good as it’s been,” manager Bob Melvin said.
Matos, who drove in five runs Friday night, has RBIs in his last six games and set a franchise record with 17 RBIs in his first six games of the season with a plate appearance. With Jung Hoo Lee out this season, 22-year-old Matos hopes to continue playing in the center of the field. He also took away a potential extra-base hit from Ezequiel Tovar with a pop in the fifth.
Matos was batting just .218 in 31 games for Triple-A Sacramento before being called up for the second time this season last week. He said he is proud to have success in the majors. He is seeing the ball very well and trusting more both at the plate and in the field.
“I’m not the one in the stressful situation,” Matos said through interpreter Erwin Higueros about RBI’s chances. “The pitcher is the one trying to get me out of there. So I have the advantage.”
Matos put the Giants ahead with a three-run home run in the first inning, hit an RBI double in his second at-bat to give San Francisco a 6-3 lead and then hit two more runs in the eighth with a bases loaded single as part of a six-run inning.
“I’m just trying to get on base for him,” Chapman said. “I mean, he’s doing unbelievably well.”
Colorado lost the first two games in San Francisco after winning seven straight games. Tovar had two hits to extend his hitting streak to 11 games.
San Francisco has won each of the last seven starts for Kyle Harrison (4-1), who has allowed three runs in five innings.
The Giants struck out Rockies starter Ty Blach (1-2) after three innings, scoring him for six runs. Blach, who started for the Giants in their 2018 opener, faced his former team for the sixth time. The 33-year-old Denver native was drafted by the Giants in 2012 and has bounced between the minor and big leagues with Colorado the past three seasons.
“He’s just persistent,” Rockies manager Bud Black said before Blach’s journeyman game. “He loves playing, he loves competing.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rockies: C Elias Díaz (sore left hand) remains out of the lineup but is expected to return as soon as the swelling subsides. … Díaz’s backup, Jacob Stallings, was sore but available Saturday after being hit in the right forearm by a pitch. Utility player Hunter Goodman made his first career start behind the plate. … OF Nolan Jones and INF/OF Kris Bryant, who suffered lower back strains, each went 1 for 4 on Friday with Triple-A Albuquerque. They will make two more rehab starts before the Rockies determine whether to bring them up.
Giants: NL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell (left adductor strain) is expected to return to the rotation next week, likely Wednesday, after pitching well in two rehab starts. … Another starter, Alex Cobb, is still dealing with a shoulder injury and has not played this season so far after undergoing offseason hip surgery. … With Lee entering the 60-day injured list, the Giants claimed OF Ryan McKenna off waivers from Baltimore.
NEXT
RHP Jordan Hicks (3-1, 2.44 ERA) pitches for the Giants against RHP Dakota Hudson (1-6, 6.13 ERA) for the Rockies in the final game of the three-game set.
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