Giants try to start winning streak in Colorado
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}(SportsNetwork.com) - The San Francisco Giants will try to build on a recent win when they visit the Colorado Rockies Monday to start a three-game series at Coors Field.
The Giants ended a three-game losing streak and salvaged the finale of a three-game set versus the San Diego Padres with a 4-3 win on Easter Sunday. The Giants scored four runs in the first two innings and were able to hold on behind starter Tim Lincecum.
Lincecum got his first win of the season and lasted six innings, allowing three runs and seven hits with seven strikeouts and three walks.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I just kind of got us off on a good foot today. I think that is something our offense has been looking for, to get them kind of generated," said Lincecum. "I just did my best to keep us in the game."
Sergio Romo was the fourth reliever used and pitched the ninth for his fifth save.
Buster Posey hit a two-run homer in the first inning and Angel Pagan delivered a two-RBI single in the second for San Francisco, which had posted just three runs in its previous three games.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Giants starting pitcher Ryan Vogelsong draws the start Monday and is still searching for his first win. Vogelsong has no record and a 5.40 earned run average in three starts and pitched well in last Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers, He posted the no-decision with six innings of one-run ball and had allowed four runs in each of his first two outings.
Vogelsong, a right-hander, has enjoyed success in his career against Colorado with a 5-1 mark and a 3.22 ERA in 13 games (8 starts).
Colorado was aiming for a three-game sweep of the visiting Philadelphia Phillies, but suffered a 10-9 loss in Sunday's series finale. In the marathon setback that lasted more than four hours, the Phillies posted two runs off Rockies reliever Matt Belisle in the eighth to stay ahead for good.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Justin Morneau had a big day with a game-tying two-run homer in the seventh inning and finished with five RBI. He is batting .421 with 12 RBI and three doubles in his last five games.
"Mo's pretty locked in right now," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said.
Charlie Blackmon also homered and both Troy Tulowitzki and Brandon Barnes had three hits and a pair of runs scored. Rockies starting pitcher Juan Nicasio surrendered five runs -- four earned -- and seven hits in five innings.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Colorado star outfielder Carlos Gonzalez exited the game in the sixth inning with tendinitis in his left knee and Weiss said it doesn't seem to be serious. Gonzalez is day-to-day and told reporters he feels "alright." Gonzalez is batting .282 with four homers and 14 RBI this season.
The Rockies had won three in a row and scored 24 runs against the Phillies.
Taking the mound for Colorado Monday will be Jorge De La Rosa, who is 0-3 with a 7.58 earned run average in four starts. De La Rosa had a respectable outing last Wednesday in a 4-2 loss at San Diego and allowed three runs, two earned, in six innings.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}De La Rosa had permitted 14 runs in his first three starts and lost to the Giants on April 11, when he was reached for six runs in 4 1/3 innings of a 6-5 defeat. In 20 career games (17 starts) against San Francisco, the left-hander is 8-5 with a 4.26 ERA.
Colorado lost two of three to the Giants earlier this month by the bay and went 7-3 against them at Coors Field last season.