LeMahieu caps big day with HR in 9th, Rockies top Giants 9-8

DJ LeMahieu hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning and set a career best with five RBIs, rallying the Colorado Rockies past the San Francisco Giants 9-8 on Thursday.
  
Nolan Arenado hit his 19th home run, tying him for the NL lead with Washington’s Bryce Harper. Trevor Story added three hits for Colorado, which had lost four straight at San Francisco.
  
The Rockies blew leads of 5-2 and 7-5 and were down 8-7 before scoring twice off closer Sam Dyson (2-2) to avoid a series sweep.
  
Chris Iannetta hit a leadoff single in the ninth and was replaced by pinch-runner Pat Valaika. After pinch-hitter Tom Murphy popped out, LeMahieu sent a full-count pitch from Dyson into the left-field stands.
  
LeMahieu had an RBI single as part of Colorado’s four-run fourth. His two-run single off Ty Blach in the seventh gave the Rockies a 7-5 lead.
  
Adam Ottavino (4-1) gave up two runs but retired three batters to win. Wade Davis pitched the ninth for his 22nd save.
  
All three games in the series were decided by one run.
  
Brandon Belt hit a two-run homer, Joe Panik had two hits and two RBIs while Pablo Sandoval and Andrew McCutchen also had two hits for San Francisco.
  
The Giants trailed most of the afternoon but took an 8-7 lead in the eighth when Alen Hanson doubled in two runs.
  
Arenado homered off starter Chris Stratton in the first, his 10th this season in the opening frame.
  
It was also Arenado’s 10th career home run at AT&T Park, tied with former Rockies infielder Troy Tulowitzki for second-most among visiting players. Arizona’s Paul Goldschmidt has 11.
  
Neither starter factored in the decision and had nearly identical lines.
  
Stratton allowed five runs on eight hits in four innings. Colorado’s Jon Gray also gave up five runs in four innings but yielded seven hits with seven strikeouts.
  
TRAINER’S ROOM
  
Giants: C Buster Posey was held out of the starting lineup due to the pitching matchup but had a pinch-hit single in the eighth.
  
UP NEXT
  
Rockies: LHP Tyler Anderson (4-3, 4.62 ERA) faces the Dodgers in the opener of a three-game series in Los Angeles on Monday. Anderson is unbeaten in nine road starts this season.
  
Giants: LHP Andrew Suarez (2-4, 4.43) takes the hill against the Diamondbacks on Friday.