Jorge Soler hits MLB season-best 478-foot HR, Birdsong strikes out 12 as Giants beat Rockies 3-2
San Francisco Giants' Jorge Soler connects for a solo home run off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Ryan Feltner in the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 21, 2024, in Denver. Credit: AP/David Zalubowski
DENVER — Jorge Soler opened the game with the longest homer in the majors this season, rookie Hayden Birdsong struck out a career-high 12 and the San Francisco Giants beat the Colorado Rockies 3-2 on Sunday.
Soler hit the fourth pitch of the game 478 feet to dead center for his 11th homer of the season, staking the Giants to an early lead. Tyler Fitzgerald led off the third with his second homer of the series and fourth of the year, and Matt Chapman scored on a passed ball in the fourth inning to give San Francisco a 3-0 lead it never relinquished.
Birdsong (2-0), making his fifth career start, didn’t allow a hit until Brendan Rodgers’ two-out, two-run homer in the fourth inning. The 22-year-old right-hander walked one in six innings, his longest outing since having his contract selected June 26. He recorded the most strikeouts by a San Francisco pitcher this season.
“I was landing curveballs over and over again, the slider was there today, just felt good,” Birdsong said. “I knew (Rodgers) was sitting on a slider, didn’t quite get it where I needed to, he leaned out over the plate and got a hold of it.”
Camilo Doval got the final three outs for his 18th save.
Giants manager Bob Melvin wasn’t around to see the win after getting ejected before the first pitch after he and bench coach Ryan Christensen delivered the lineup to home plate umpire Alex MacKay.
“I just talked too much,” Melvin said. “Umpiring’s a hard job, I’m aware of that, just probably said too much. I didn’t plan that, it wasn’t choreographed. I probably went too far.”
San Francisco Giants' Jorge Soler heads up the first-base line after hitting a solo home run off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Ryan Feltner in the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 21, 2024, in Denver. Credit: AP/David Zalubowski
Colorado failed to complete a series sweep on the day franchise icon Todd Helton was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Helton’s speech was played on the big scoreboard approximately 30 minutes before Sunday’s first pitch.
Helton is the only player elected to the Hall of Fame after spending his entire career with the Rockies.
Colorado starter Ryan Feltner (1-10) struck out six in seven solid innings, but remains winless since April 12, a span of 17 starts.
“I thought he got stronger as the game went on,” manager Bud Black said of Feltner. “A little frustrated early, but he bounced back and kept it together.”
Colorado Rockies' Brendan Rodgers follows the flight of his two-run home run off San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Hayden Birdsong in the fourth inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 21, 2024, in Denver. Credit: AP/David Zalubowski
TRAINER’S ROOM
Giants: RHP Alex Cobb (hip/shoulder) tossed five scoreless innings for Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday night. Cobb has been on the 60-day injured list since March 25th.
Rockies: C Elias Diaz was not in the lineup after leaving Saturday night’s game with what manager Bud Black described as a “little calf strain.”
UP NEXT
Giants: LHP Blake Snell (0-3, 6.31 ERA) is expected to be activated from the injured list to open a series at the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night. Snell has been on the IL since June 3rd with a left groin strain.
Rockies: LHP Austin Gomber (2-6, 4.61) opens a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox on Monday night.
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