San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Carlos Gonzalez tripled home the tying run in the top of the ninth inning and scored the go-ahead run on a throwing error, as the Colorado Rockies rallied past San Francisco, 2-1, in the opener of a three-game series at AT&T Park.
Giants starting pitcher Jonathan Sanchez walked Dexter Fowler to begin the ninth and departed for closer Brian Wilson (3-2). Gonzalez, the reigning National League Player of the Week, hit a broken-bat liner that right fielder Cody Ross misjudged.
Gonzalez then came home when second baseman Freddy Sanchez's relay throw couldn't be reeled in by Pablo Sandoval and wound up in the stands.
Huston Street earned his 13th save with a 1-2-3 ninth.
The heartbreaking loss was made doubly worse for the Giants by the fact that Philadelphia, which leads the race for the National League Wild Card, mustered only one hit in a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
San Francisco remained 1 1/2 games back of the Phillies, while Colorado closed to within 3 1/2 games of the two-time defending NL champs.
The Giants also missed out on an opportunity to gain ground on NL West-leading San Diego, which suffered its fifth consecutive defeat, falling to division rival Arizona. San Fran is five games behind the Padres.
Colorado's ninth-inning rally resulted in a no-decision for starter Jorge De La Rosa and a win for Rafael Betancourt (5-1), who worked a flawless eighth.
An RBI single by Giants rookie Buster Posey was among the four hits given up by De La Rosa. The lefty walked four and struck out nine in seven strong innings.
Sanchez scattered five hits, walked two and fanned six.
The Giants got on the board in the fourth. De La Rosa issued consecutive walks to Aubrey Huff and Pat Burrell to open the inning, and Posey, who had not played in the previous two games because of a mild left forearm strain, ripped a liner to center field.
De La Rosa escaped further damage by getting Ross to ground into a double play and retiring Sandoval on a fly ball.
Game Notes
Wilson recorded his fourth blown save of the season...Ryan Spilborghs and Miguel Olivo both had two hits for Colorado...The Rockies reinstated infielder Clint Barmes from the bereavement list. Barmes started at shortstop on Monday in place of Troy Tulowitzki, who missed the game with a groin injury. To make room for Barmes, the Rockies placed infielder Ian Stewart on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to August 26, with a strained right oblique.