Chapman, Soler each get 3 hits as Giants beat Rockies 5-4 to complete 4-game sweep

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Matt Chapman and Jorge Soler each had three hits, and the San Francisco Giants finished off a four-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies with a 5-4 victory Sunday.

It was San Francisco's first four-game sweep since 2022. The Giants have beaten Colorado 12 straight times at home, tying a Rockies record for most consecutive losses at an opposing ballpark.

The Giants improved to two games under .500 as they look to make a playoff push, with their next 13 games coming against teams with losing records.

“If we’re going to move forward, we have to get to .500," manager Bob Melvin said. "But it was nice to be able to string a few wins together and get that feeling when you take the field — like we took the field today — we felt like we were going to win the game.”

With the trade deadline looming Tuesday, the series sweep generated confidence inside the Giants' clubhouse.

“Everybody here in this room, we believe in each other,” Chapman said. “We believe that our best baseball is ahead of us.”

Trailing 5-3 heading into the ninth inning, the Rockies scored once and had the potential tying run at second base with one out against closer Camilo Doval. But then Sam Hilliard struck out and Ezequiel Tovar — who had three hits — grounded out to give Doval his 20th save.

Casey Schmitt hit a solo homer in the first to put the Giants ahead. In the second, Derek Hill had an RBI triple and Soler drove him in with a double to make it 3-0.

Chapman’s two-run single with two outs and the bases loaded in the sixth gave the Giants a 5-2 lead.

San Francisco used six pitchers in a bullpen game, including Jordan Hicks, who transitioned to the 'pen on Sunday after spending the first half of the season in the starting rotation. Hicks entered in the sixth and allowed two runs in two innings. Randy Rodríguez (3-1) permitted one run in three innings for the win.

Colorado loaded the bases in the eighth with two outs but Spencer Bivens got Brendan Rodgers to ground out.

Michael Toglia homered, and Charlie Blackmon and Hunter Goodman each had an RBI single for the Rockies. Tovar extended his hitting streak to 15 games, tying a career high.

After scoring 20 runs against Boston on Wednesday, the Rockies totaled just nine during the four-game series. They struck out 53 times, the most by Giants pitchers in a four-game series.

“Our offense took a little bit of a downturn here, which was so surprising and frustrating at the same time coming off the homestand — especially 20-run game on Wednesday — with a lot of confidence coming in here,” manager Bud Black said. “We just didn’t hit enough.”

Austin Gomber (2-7) pitched into the fourth inning, allowing three runs.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rockies: CF Brenton Doyle exited before the third inning with a bruised fingertip on his throwing hand. Black said Doyle, after striking out in the first, accidentally hit the training kit in the dugout while taking “a little swing with the towel” out of frustration. Doyle, the Rockies’ third-place hitter on Sunday, is batting .274 with 17 home runs and 53 RBIs. “It’s going to eventually impact his throwing and impact maybe his ability to grip the bat, so out of precaution I took him out,” Black said. ... OF Jordan Beck (broken left hand) went 2 for 3 and scored a run in his first rehab game with Triple-A Albuquerque on Saturday.

Giants: RHP Alex Cobb, who has been recovering from offseason hip surgery, developed a blister in his most recent rehab start, delaying his scheduled return this week. … All-Star OF Heliot Ramos was out of the lineup with a right thumb injury, which is not believed to be serious. … RHP Sean Hjelle was placed on the bereavement list.

UP NEXT

Rockies: Continue a 10-game West Coast trip Tuesday with the opener of a three-game series at the Los Angeles Angels. RHP Cal Quantrill (7-7, 4.09 ERA) pitches for Colorado.

Giants: Will host Oakland in the Bay Bridge Series for two games beginning Tuesday. The team had not yet announced a scheduled starter.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Colorado Rockies' Michael Toglia (4) celebrates with Jake Cave (11) after hitting a solo home run againsr the San Francisco Giants in the seventh inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, July 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Kavin Mistry)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Jordan Hicks throws to a Colorado Rockies batter during the sixth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, July 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Kavin Mistry)

Colorado Rockies' Hunter Goodman celebrates after hitting a single against the San Francisco Giants during the sixth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, July 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Kavin Mistry)

Colorado Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon, right, drops the ball attempting to tag out San Francisco Giants' Derek Hill during the sixth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, July 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Kavin Mistry)

San Francisco Giants' Jorge Soler and Derek Hill (48) celebrate scoring against the Colorado Rockies in the sixth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, July 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Kavin Mistry)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Camilo Doval, right, celebrates with catcher Patrick Bailey, left, after their victory over the Colorado Rockies in a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, July 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Kavin Mistry)

San Francisco Giants' Matt Chapman hits an RBI single against the Colorado Rockies in the sixth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, July 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Kavin Mistry)

SEATTLE (AP) — Kenneth Walker III rushed for 84 of his 103 yards and a touchdown in the second half and the Seattle Seahawks overcame a mistake-filled first half to beat the Denver Broncos 26-20 on Sunday in the debut of new coach Mike Macdonald.

Walker sparked a second-half rally after an unsightly performance by Seattle’s offense over the first 30 minutes littered with sloppy miscues. The Broncos led 13-9 at the half thanks in part to two safeties.

Walker changed the momentum in the third quarter as Seattle recommitted to the ground game. He gained 53 yards on five carries on Seattle’s first drive of the second half, capped by a 23-yard touchdown run. Walker had another TD called back on a penalty, but he still produced the seventh 100-yard rushing game of his career.

Walker appeared to injure himself on a 7-yard run early in the fourth quarter and didn't play the rest of the game because of abdominal pain.

Seattle quarterback Geno Smith was part of the early struggles for the Seahawks offense but found a rhythm in the second half. Smith ran for a 34-yard touchdown in the second quarter — the longest run of his career — and hit Zach Charbonnet on a 30-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the fourth quarter that gave Seattle a 26-13 lead.

Smith finished 18 of 25 for 171 yards.

Macdonald won his debut after being hired as the youngest head coach in the NFL tasked with moving Seattle forward following Pete Carroll's 14 seasons in charge of the franchise. And he'll be thrilled with the defensive performance for 3 1/2 quarters.

Denver rookie QB Bo Nix was 26 of 42 for 138 yards and was twice intercepted on careless throws — once by Julian Love at the Seattle 1 and the other time by Riq Woolen in the fourth quarter. The Broncos finished with 231 total yards and committed three turnovers.

Nix did put together a late drive and pulled the Broncos within 26-20 with 2:09 left after scoring on a 4-yard run. But Seattle was able to run out the clock after Tyler Lockett's one-handed catch to convert a third down, the last of his six receptions.

Denver scored twice on safeties, becoming just the second team since at least 1960 to score on two safeties in a season opener. Both safeties came in the second quarter — one when Anthony Bradford was penalized for holding in the end zone and later when Charbonnet was unable to escape the end zone on a run play. The only other team since 1960 with two safeties in an opener was the New Orleans Saints against Cleveland in Week 1 in 1987.

Seattle lost starting right tackle George Fant to a knee injury in the first quarter. Fant grabbed at his right knee while blocking on a pass play and needed help to get to the sideline. He was quickly ruled out by the team and replaced by Stone Forsythe.

Denver left tackle Garrett Boles suffered an ankle injury in the second half and didn’t return.

Broncos: host Pittsburgh next Sunday.

Seahawks: at New England next Sunday.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton looks on during warmups before an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Denver Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton (49) runs an interception thrown by Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith as Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) defends during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald reacts during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) celebrates after scoring a touchdown with teammates tight end Noah Fant, second from right, and wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) runs for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) carries the ball as Denver Broncos linebacker Baron Browning (5) defends during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) is unable to catch a two-point conversion as Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II (2) looks on during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) and safety Julian Love, right, and safety Rayshawn Jenkins, center, react after an interception near the goal line during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Denver Broncos defensive end Zach Allen, left, stops Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) for a safety as Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper, top defends during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) reacts after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) leaps into the endzone for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)