Chatwood, Rox shut down Giants

SAN FRANCISCO -- Though it's often said that complete games are extinct, Rockies right-hander Tyler Chatwood breathed new life into a dying art Saturday.
Chatwood maintained a perfect game for 5 2/3 innings and finished with a complete-game two-hitter Saturday in Colorado's 5-0 triumph over the Giants.
Chatwood, who entered the game with career ERAs of 3.32 on the road and 5.08 at home, capitalized on AT&T Park's pitcher-friendly environs to deal the Giants their first shutout defeat of the season. He went to three-ball counts just twice -- the first time with two outs in the sixth, when Chris Marrero singled cleanly to right field on a 3-2 pitch to spoil the perfecto.

It was Chatwood's second career complete game. He had an eight-inning, 1-0 loss at Dodger Stadium on July 13, 2013, so actually celebrating going the distance was happily odd for him.
"I didn't really know what to do," said Chatwood, whose pitching helped assure that the Rockies will at least split a four-game series that ends Sunday. "It was nice just to go give 'G' [catcher Dustin Garneau] a hug and go get in line to shake hands."

Marrero said that he connected with a slider. "My approach is, get a good pitch to hit," he said. "He was spotting. … Throwing a great game."
The Rockies insisted Chatwood's fastball and cutter-slider were sharper, and he was mixing his curveball and changeup better than at any point in his career, even though he entered with a 6.35 ERA.

"Today I just focused on making pitches," Chatwood said. "The first two outings, I didn't feel like I threw the ball bad, but I just gave up homers, which killed me."
Chatwood's 5 2/3 innings were the second longest a Rockies pitcher had ever gone without a baserunner. Chad Bettis started with six perfect innings at Philadelphia in an eventual 4-1 victory. Chatwood would finish with the Rockies' third shutout at AT&T Park since the stadium opened in 2000 and the first since Ubaldo Jiménez on May 31, 2010.

"The mix of pitches was something that we've talked about, and it came into play today," Rockies manager Bud Black said. "An outstanding effort, and one of the best-pitched games I've seen in awhile."
Giants starter Matt Moore, who pitched an eight-inning three-hitter against Arizona in his most recent outing, wasn't nearly as effective this time. The left-hander surrendered five runs and 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings, faltering particularly in the fourth inning when Colorado scored three runs. Charlie Blackmon's two-run single was the big hit in that uprising.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Same old Nolan: Known for his outstanding performances against the Giants, Colorado third baseman Nolan Arenado added another to his collection by demonstrating his versatility. He barehanded Eduardo Núñez's grounder and threw out the speedy Giant to end the second inning, then he highlighted the third with a home run that broke a scoreless tie.

Parker hurt in collision: Giants left fielder Jarrett Parker made a remarkable grab of DJ LeMahieu's drive to end the fourth inning, but he paid a dear price as he ran into the wall at full speed and broke his right clavicle. The thud of Parker's body striking the barrier was audible throughout the ballpark.
"To see him stay locked in like that, hats off to him," Moore said. "Huge play to keep the game relatively in check right there."

QUOTABLE
"I realized it because every time I was on deck or if I stepped out of the dugout, the fans were yelling at me, 'I hope you blow it.'" -- Chatwood, on fans at AT&T Park making sure he was aware he had a perfect game through the early innings
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Arenado's third-inning homer was his ninth at AT&T Park. The only player to have more homers there as a visitor is former Rockies and current Blue Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitzki with 10. Tulowitzki did it in 68 games, while Arenado -- who will celebrate his 26th birthday Sunday in his favorite road park -- has played just 35.

WHAT'S NEXT
Rockies: Righty Antonio Senzatela, holding a 1.50 ERA through two starts and coming off his first Major League win, has a chance to give the Rockies the series win at AT&T Park on Sunday at 2:05 p.m. MT on MLB.TV.
Giants: San Francisco will conclude its series against the Rockies and its homestand with Sunday's 1:05 p.m. PT finale at AT&T Park on MLB.TV. Jeff Samardzija is looking for his first win of the season.
Watch every out-of-market regular-season game live on MLB.TV.