Giants continue to sputter in 11-3 loss to Rockies

DENVER — Ryan Vogelsong's first career home run was spoiled by his rough outing on the mound.

Vogelsong gave his team some early offense but he struggled to find his rhythm from the rubber, and the San Francisco Giants fell to the Colorado Rockies 11-3 on Thursday.

'I just stunk,' he said. 'Didn't command the heater, breaking ball was up. Just didn't throw well at all.'

Carlos Gonzalez homered twice for the second straight night and Chris Rusin pitched a complete game for the Rockies.

Gonzalez's big night helped extend San Francisco's losing streak to six. The Giants are seven games back in the NL West and the wild card chase.

San Francisco was swept by the Dodgers in three one-run games heading into Thursday, but there was no drama against the Rockies.

Gonzalez hit two two-run homers to take the NL lead with a career-high 35. He finished with four hits and drove in four runs to lead Colorado's season-high 19-hit effort.

Nolan Arenado homered for the fourth consecutive game.

'We're dealing with injuries,' manager Bruce Bochy said. 'Hard to give some guys a day who probably need a break. It showed today. I know they're trying but they're running on fumes. So I have to try to find a way to give them all a break here soon.'

Gonzalez, who hit a grand slam and a two-run homer in his last two at-bats against Arizona on Wednesday, went deep in the first off Vogelsong in Colorado's four-run first. The outfielder greeted reliever George Kontos with a shot down the right-field line in the fourth to give Colorado a 9-2 lead. He has 11 RBIs in his last two games.

Gonzalez has 16 career multi-homer games in his career, including six this season which have all come since July 24. He doubled in the second and singled in the ninth ahead of Arenado's 34th homer of the season.

Vogelsong (9-11) allowed eight runs — seven earned — and 11 hits in three-plus innings.

'Just a little flat there, missing his spots,' Bochy said. 'That first inning he was having trouble making his pitches. then he regrouped and it looked like he was getting in a groove there. But he was off tonight — pretty simple.'

His lone highlight came in the third when he hit one over the wall in right-center.

'I knew I hit it good, but when you don't have one, you don't ever know,' he said. 'Not enjoying it at all.'

Rusin (5-7) bounced back from a rough road trip to pitch go the distance. He wasn't as sharp as he was on Aug. 16 when he pitched a shutout against San Diego but he allowed three runs and six hits and struck out five.

Rusin has a 1.50 ERA in his last two home starts. He is the first Rockies pitcher to throw two complete games at Coors Field since Aaron Cook in 2008.

TOUGH STRETCH

Vogelsong has hit a rough patch after winning two straight starts. In his last three outings he is 0-3 with 14 runs allowed in 11 innings for an ERA of 11.45.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Giants: SS Brandon Crawford missed his third straight game with a swollen left calf. He was injured when he was hit by a pitch against the Dodgers on Monday.

LINCECUM HAS HIP SURGERY, OUT 5 MONTHS

San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum had surgery on his left hip Thursday and will need five months of rehab to be ready for the 2016 season.

The operation on the two-time National League Cy Young Award winner was performed in Vail, Colo., by Dr. Marc Philippon. Before the Giants began a series with the Colorado Rockies, Giants trainer Dave Groeschner said Philippon 'was pretty confident he'll get back to major league pitching for next season.'

Groeschner said Philippon repaired Lincecum's torn left hip labrum during the arthroscopic procedure and addressed a hip impingement or bone build-up that had occurred over time and was the biggest source of discomfort for the pitcher.

'I'm glad we did something,' Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. 'It's going to give Timmy a little peace of mind to get this behind him.'

Lincecum will begin range-of-motion exercises today, Groeschner said, and remain in Vail before traveling to Scottsdale, Ariz., early next week and begin working there with the Giants' physical therapist.

Lincecum, 31, went 7-4 with a 4.13 ERA in 76⅓ innings this season in 15 starts, the last on June 27.

'Timmy was battling to try and get back to pitch this year,' Groeschner said. 'He was working really hard. He took a couple cortisone shots six weeks ago. As he continued along to try and throw off the mound and get back and get out there, it just wasn't working.

'He did everything he could to try and avoid (surgery). He wants to get back to being Tim Lincecum. He wanted to get this done now, so he can do that.'

Lincecum was the first player to win back-to-back NL Cy Young Awards in his first two full seasons — 2008 and 2009. But he has struggled the past four seasons, going 39-42 with a 4.68 ERA. In this, the final season of a two-year, $35 million contract, Lincecum is making $18 million. He will be a free agent after the season.

Bochy is hopeful Lincecum returns to the Giants, recognizing that decision rests with the front office.

'I love Timmy,' Bochy said. ' A great teammate, we all know what Timmy has done for the Giants. My door will always be open for Tim Lincecum. That's how much I think about him. That's a decision that's made on the baseball side obviously with everybody. I appreciate what he's done in my time that I've had to this point with him. It doesn't mean that won't continue.'

UP NEXT

Giants: RHP Chris Heston (11-8, 3.56 ERA) will try to end San Francisco's skid Friday night. Heston allowed five runs in 3 2-3 innings against the Cardinals on Sunday.