SAN FRANCISCO — Rookie shortstop Ezequiel Tovar is fast becoming the story of the season for the Rockies.
The 21-year-old rocketed a three-run homer off right-hander Tyler Rogers in the seventh inning Friday night, lifting the Rockies to a 5-2 victory over the Giants at Oracle Park.
“That was huge, he’s special,” said left-hander Austin Gomber, who won his third consecutive start with a solid six-inning performance. “Every time we’re at home and I see his name on the scoreboard, it just reminds me how young he is. It’s so much fun to see him come into his own.
“He’s been great with the glove all year and as the season’s gone on, the quality at-bat has (come along). He’s going to be a star. I think everybody in here recognizes that.”
Tovar’s ninth homer of the season — he’s now tied with All-Star catcher Elias Diaz for the second-most on the team — helped the Rockies snap their 10-game road losing streak. Also put to rest was an 11-game losing streak to San Francisco.
Tovar’s blast, by the way, was just the third homer Rogers has allowed this season and just his 13th total in 234 career games.
“It’s happening before our eyes — simply put,” manager Bud Black said. “I’m just enjoying watching this young, 21-year-old shortstop play baseball. I’ve said it countless times, his confidence, his self-assurance, and his ability to have the proper heartbeat and proper pulse from the time the game begins until the time the game ends is really good stuff.”
Tovar, cool as always, said he got a quick scouting report from the bench when Rogers came on to relieve lefty Taylor Rogers (his brother). Taylor Rogers had walked Randal Grichuk and Brenton Doyle to set up Tovar’s homer.
“The scouting report said that (Tyler Rogers) threw soft and a little bit funky, so I sat on his (first-pitch slider),” Tovar said.
Gomber, utilizing his fastball against an aggressive Giants lineup, gave up two runs on five hits, walked none and struck out one.
“Like I say often, you never know how a game is going to play out,” Black said. “Going into the game, we thought a four-pitch mix would be in play. But tonight, ‘Gomby’ threw a lot of fastballs.
“It was one of those games where he and Elias realized that the fastball had life in the hitting area and he was able to get outs with his fastball. He just stayed with it.”
Gomber wobbled but didn’t crumble in the sixth, thanks to Doyle and his cannon of a right arm in center field.
Giants second baseman Casey Schmitt led off the inning with a sharp single to right, then celebrated when Brandon Crawford, the longtime Rockies nemesis, rocketed a two-run homer over the right field wall to tie the game, 2-2. The homer was Crawford’s 28th against Colorado, by far his most vs. any team. Arizona, with 15, is a distant second.
It was, however, Crawford’s first home run since April 29 vs. San Diego in Mexico City.
Gomber, in complete control for his first five innings, suddenly lost command after Crawford’s homer. Gomber plunked Austin Slater and gave up a single to Wilmer Flores. Gomber induced a force-out grounder by Lamont Wade Jr. before J.D. Davis lofted a would-be sacrifice fly to Doyle in center. But Doyle loaded up and threw a strike to catcher Diaz, who easily tagged out Slater at the plate to end the inning. Gomber celebrated the play by leaping up and down like a Little Leaguer.
“In situations like that, it’s a lot about anticipation,” said Doyle, a rookie who recorded his fifth outfield assist of the season. “You want the ball in those situations. It was kind of a tough sky at times, so I just made sure I put myself in a position to make a strong throw. Those double-play balls are some of my favorite plays, especially in a tight game like that.”
The Rockies worked hard for their two runs off right-hander Ross Stripling in the first inning. Kris Bryant’s seven-pitch at-bat was rewarded with a single up the middle. Ryan McMahon followed up with a 10-pitch at-bat that resulted in a two-run homer to left-center. McMahon’s team-leading 14th homer came on Stripling’s 93 mph sinker.
Right-hander Daniel Bard, getting his first save opportunity of the season, pitched a one-two-three ninth inning, getting a big assist from second baseman Harold Castro who made a terrific catch on Flores’ blooper into shallow center for the first out of the inning.
Black said he used Bard, last season’s closer, in part because Justin Lawrence has been working through a sore arm.
Saturday’s pitching matchup
Rockies RHP Connor Seabold (1-5, 6.62 ERA) at Giants TBA
2:05 p.m. Saturday, Oracle Park
TV: AT&T SportsNet
Radio: 850 AM/94.1 FM
Seabold is searching for consistent command within the strike zone. That’s been sorely lacking of late and it’s reflected in his statistics. The right-hander has lost three consecutive games and got mauled by the Tigers on Sunday at Coors Field. He allowed eight runs on seven hits — including three home runs — over five innings. Seabold is 0-3 with a 14.54 ERA over his last three starts with eight home runs given up. The Giants, who have not announced their Saturday starter, are likely to utilize a bullpen game. Right-hander Ryan Walker has been pegged as the likely opener.
Pitching probables
Sunday: Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (4-9, 4.93) at Giants RHP Logan Webb (7-7, 3.38), 2:05 p.m., ATTRM
Monday-Thursday: All-Star break
