Thairo Estrada hit a decisive three-run homer in the fifth inning and singled twice, while Luis Matos drove in a career-high five runs. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Colorado Rockies 10-5 on Friday night, marking their sixth straight home victory in the series.
Matos and Matt Chapman each had three hits for a revitalized San Francisco team, which had just enjoyed its first day off after playing 16 consecutive games. The Giants kept adding runs, something they have struggled with this season.
“I think it was something that we all felt was coming, especially because of the attitude the team showed in the dugout that we’re not giving any outs, that we were fighting, we were competing,” Matos said through an interpreter. “I’m not at all surprised that we did it.”
Estrada’s seventh home run of the year, a drive to left field, forced Colorado right-hander Ryan Feltner (1-4) out of the game, bringing in Victor Vodnik. Matos added an important RBI single in the inning for insurance, which became relevant when Ezequiel Tovar doubled home a run in the top of the sixth before the Giants added more runs later.
Matos, who started the Giants’ scoring with an RBI double in the fourth, then added an RBI groundout on a bunt in the seventh.
Marco Luciano followed with a single, earning his first career RBI. Matos finished his stellar night with a two-run double in the eighth.
“We took a lead and never gave it back, adding on runs,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said. “We haven’t done much of that this year, so it was good to see. There were quality at-bats throughout the lineup tonight.”
It was a challenging day for the Giants, as they learned that rookie center fielder Jung Hoo Lee needs season-ending surgery on his dislocated left shoulder, injured when he crashed into the outfield wall.
Still, it was a festive spring evening with former Giants lefty Masanori Murakami, now 80 years old, throwing out the ceremonial first pitch on Japanese Heritage Night. He wore a black Giants jacket signed by former teammates Willie Mays and the late Willie McCovey.
Jordan Beck homered in the second inning for Colorado, and Ryan McMahon had a two-run double in the first. The Rockies started the game with four straight hits, including three consecutive doubles, off rookie right-hander Mason Black.
