The San Francisco Giants earned a 14-11 victory over the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Friday in spring training action. Christian Koss paced the offense, going 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. Logan Webb worked 4.1 innings on the mound, allowing 6 earned runs on 8 hits. The Giants finished with 19 hits on the day while holding the Rockies to 10. It was an encouraging performance for the Giants as they continue sharpening the roster for the regular season. Games like these serve as a valuable measuring stick for where the team stands heading into the campaign.
Key Performers
Christian Koss was the standout at the plate, going 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI. The long ball provided a major boost to the offensive attack. It was the kind of day at the plate that suggests good things ahead for the Giants offense.
Daniel Susac added to the attack, going 2-for-3 with a home run and an RBI, Jared Oliva provided support, going 2-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI, and Jerar Encarnacion also contributed, going 2-for-2 with a double and two RBI. It was a balanced attack that kept the pressure on from the first pitch to the last.
On the other side of the diamond, Willi Castro led the Rockies offense with a 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, and an RBI day. Hunter Goodman also contributed, going 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Mickey Moniak added a 1-for-4 with an RBI effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Giants pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
Logan Webb got the start, having a rough go of it, working 4.1 innings while allowing 6 earned runs on 8 hits with three strikeouts. He threw 86 pitches in the outing. His outing provided the coaching staff with another data point as rotation and bullpen decisions loom.
The bullpen combined for 3.5 innings of work, allowing 1 earned run while striking out four. The relief corps did its job in protecting the lead after the starter departed. Managing the bullpen workload is a key priority during the spring, and every outing helps the coaching staff gauge who is ready for high-leverage situations. Juan Sanchez recorded the save to close out the game.
Among the relievers, JT Brubaker stood out with 2.0 innings of scoreless work, striking out two. The outing gave the coaching staff confidence in his ability to contribute this season.
How It Happened
Rockies got on the board first with a run in the first inning. The Giants responded with a run in the second. Rockies countered with four runs in the second. The Giants struck back with three runs in the fourth. The Giants added two runs in the fifth. Rockies responded with a run in the fifth. Rockies pushed across a run in the sixth. The Giants struck back with three runs in the seventh. The Giants added four runs in the eighth. Rockies responded with four runs in the eighth. The Giants countered with a run in the ninth. The Giants spread their scoring across six different innings, applying consistent pressure throughout the game. The Giants out-hit Rockies 19-10 on the day, with 4 errors committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 9,096 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
It was a productive day for the Giants, who continue to put the pieces in place ahead of the regular season. The coaching staff will take the positives from this outing and use the remaining spring games to finalize the roster. Days like this one suggest the Giants are heading in the right direction as Opening Day draws closer.
