DENVER (AP) — Kyle Freeland scattered six hits over seven sharp innings, Gerardo Parra hit a two-run homer and the Colorado Rockies beat San Francisco 8-0 on Sunday for their first three-game sweep of the Giants at Coors Field since 2002.
Freeland (2-1) mixed a wicked sinker with a two-seam fastball to get 12 groundouts and three strikeouts. The Denver native also shattered three bats on a day when the Giants changed their lineup to try to break out of a hitting funk. It didn't work as they lost for the sixth time in seven games. At 6-13, they're off to their worst start since 1983.
Jeff Samardzija (0-4) remains winless after going 5 1/3 innings and surrendering seven runs.
Colorado leads the NL West with a 13-6 mark. It's tied for the second-best start in franchise history.
Leading 3-0 in the sixth, Freeland appeared to have a 1-2-3 inning when Mark Reynolds dove for a hard grounder, got up and dove to first to beat Hunter Pence to the bag. After a review, the call was overturned. Buster Posey followed with a single before Freeland struck out Brandon Crawford on a slider to end the threat.
The Rockies broke open the game with a five-run sixth inning.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Giants: OF Denard Span remains day to day after leaving the game Saturday with a sprained right shoulder. He crashed into the wall while making a catch. ... OF Mac Williamson (strained left quad) went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts in a rehab assignment at Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday.
Rockies: First baseman Ian Desmond (broken left hand) is hitting off a tee and taking some soft-toss swings. Manager Bud Black isn't sure how many games Desmond will need when he eventually goes out on a rehab assignment before he's ready to return to the lineup. "It could be as little as three or as many as ten," Black said. ... RHP Jon Gray (stress fracture in his left foot) is expected to have a second X-ray within the next week.
TRIPLE WHAMMY
Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon led off with a triple for the second straight game. The last major league player to do that was Jose Reyes in 2012, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
Two other Rockies have led off with a triple in two straight games — Neifi Perez in 1999 and Eric Young in 1993.
Blackmon also had a two-run double in the sixth.
THIS & THAT
The Rockies are 6-1 against San Francisco this season. ... Catcher Nick Hundley had a double in the seventh against his former team. It was San Francisco's only extra-base hit. ... Parra's homer in the fourth was his second of the season.
UP NEXT
Giants: RHP Matt Cain (1-0, 3.31 ERA) takes the mound Monday as the Giants open a four-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Cain hasn't beaten the Dodgers since May 5, 2013.
Rockies: LHP Tyler Anderson (1-3, 7.32 ERA) faces Bryce Harper and the Washington Nationals in the opener of a four-game set on Monday.
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