These are the kind of wins that make a team matter. The Rockies returned home facing San Francisco Giants ace Matt Cain. This is the same right-hander who mauled them last week, knee-locking hitters with a 75-mph curveball and a 95-mph fastball.
The only thing heated on today’s Labor Day matinee was Cain. Giants manager Bruce Bochy felt the plate umpire squeezed the strike zone on his kid. As for the Rockies, all they did was inflate Cain’s ERA, pounding the right-hander in a 7-4 victory at Coors Field.
With the win, the Rockies pulled to within 4 ½ games of the division-leading Padres and Diamondbacks, pending the outcome of their contest later today. The Rockies removed all doubt with a seven-run, third-inning explosion.
Cain threw 44 pitches in the inning, consistently wiping his brow as Rockie after Rockie reached baseball safely. Colorado totaled six hits in the inning, including a two-run triple by catcher Chris Iannetta and RBI single from Troy Tulowitzki and Brad Hawpe. Cain lasted just eight outs.
Jeff Francis (15-6) wasn’t at his best, but grinded through 5 2/3 innings to pick up his 15th victory, a career-high. That ties the single-season franchise record for a left-hander set by Shawn Estes in 2004.
Manny Corpas pitched a scoreless ninth for his 13th save in 13 opportunities since becoming the closer.
Staff Writer Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
