SF Giants’ Ray pitches gem vs. Rockies to snap three-game losing streak

SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Warriors failed to show up on Friday night in San Francisco. The same can’t be said of Robbie Ray.

Ray made baseball’s worst offense look like baseball’s worst offense as the Giants beat the Colorado Rockies, 4-0, tossing seven shutout innings with eight strikeouts to snap San Francisco’s three-game losing streak.

For Ray, this marks the first time he’s completed seven innings in back-to-back outings since June 12 and June 17, 2022.

The main key for Ray over his last two starts has been simple: throwing strikes and preventing walks.

In his first five starts, Ray walked 18 batters over 24 1/3 innings, or 3.6 batters per game. Over his last two starts, by comparison, Ray has walked three total batters over 14 innings. Ray excelled at reducing free passes during spring training, walking just one batter over 19 1/3 innings.

Ray didn’t allow a hit until Hunter Goodman legged out an infield single with two outs in the top of the fourth inning. Chapman nearly kept Ray’s no-hit bid alive, diving to stop Goodman’s grounder, then double clutching before firing a throw that was a bit too late.

Following Ray’s departure after seven innings, Hayden Birdsong finished the job with two scoreless innings of relief, dropping his ERA to 1.00.

San Francisco’s offense spotted Ray four runs over the first three innings off Rockies starter Antonio Senzatela. The Giants put up a three-spot in the second as LaMonte Wade Jr. doubled home a run, Sam Huff contributed a sacrifice fly and Wade scored on a wild pitch.

In the fourth inning, Matt Chapman, who entered play with four hits in his last 10 games, hit a no-doubt, solo home run in the bottom of the third inning, his sixth homer of the season.