Ezequiel Tovar hits home run for third straight game, Rockies hold on to beat Giants 4-3

DENVER (AP) — Ezequiel Tovar hit a home run for the third straight game with a game-winning two-run drive in the fifth inning, and the Colorado Rockies beat the San Francisco Giants 4-3 Saturday night.

Kyle Freeland (2-3) threw six innings and allowed three runs — two earned — on five hits in a fifth straight quality start since being reinstated from the injured list on June 23 after a two-month absence with a left elbow sprain. He struck out four and walked one to win back-to-back decisions for the first time this season.

Tyler Fitzgerald, batting ninth in the order, doubled and homered to drive in two runs for the Giants. Wilmer Flores had a run-scoring double after Matt Chapman reached on a fielding error by shortstop Tovar with two outs in the top of the sixth inning.

Logan Webb was coming off his worst start to the season, tying a career-high when he allowed seven runs in five innings in a 10-6 loss to Toronto on July 10.

Webb (7-8) held the Rockies in check until Sam Hilliard singled to lead off the fifth inning. One out later, Tovar hit his 16th home run of the season, sending Webb’s offering over the left-field fence. Webb pitched six innings, allowing four runs on eight hits. He walked four and struck out four.

Fitzgerald homered in the third inning against Freeland and doubled in the fifth inning to Mike Yastrzemski, who was on board with a triple.

Nick Mears threw two hitless innings in relief, starting his outing with four straight strikeouts, and Victor Vodnik threw a hitless ninth inning for his third save.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Giants: LHP Robbie Ray pitched impressively in his latest rehab outing, and manager Bob Melvin said there’s a “good chance” the 2021 AL Cy Young Award winner could make his Giants debut during San Francisco’s four-game series at the Los Angeles Dodgers beginning Monday. Melvin described Ray’s impending return as a “big deal.” The Giants acquired Ray in an offseason trade with Seattle. He hopes to make his first appearance since undergoing reconstructive surgery on his pitching elbow in early May 2023. Ray threw 5 1/3 scoreless innings Friday night for Triple-A Sacramento, allowing one hit. He struck out seven and walked two.

Rockies: C Elías Díaz left the game with a sore right calf and was replaced in the third inning by C Jacob Stallings. INF-OF Kris Bryant was scheduled to make his second rehab start as a designated hitter for Triple-A Albuquerque on Saturday night after going 0-3 in his first appearance on Friday night. Bryant, who has been sidelined since early June with a left rib contusion, is expected to return to action for Albuquerque on Sunday. He is expected to be re-evaluated after the weekend and could potentially rejoin the Rockies next week.

NEXT ONE

Rockies LHP Ryan Feltner (1-9, 5.36 ERA) hopes to end an eight-game losing streak when he takes the mound Sunday in the final game of the series against the Giants, who will use RHP Hayden Birdsong (1-0, 3.72 ERA) as the starter.