Giants blank Rockies 4-0

SAN FRANCISCO - Jonathan Lucroy is confident the Colorado Rockies will find their swagger again, and fast. Their playoff hopes depend on it.

Colorado starter Tyler Chatwood dug himself an early hole against the Giants and now the Rockies’ lead for the second NL wild card is in jeopardy after a 4-0 loss to last-place San Francisco on Wednesday, the club’s third consecutive defeat.

“It’s natural for younger players and guys that have never been there before to press when you get close to crunch time,” Lucroy said.

Joe Panik hit a one-out triple in the first off Chatwood (8-13) and immediately scored on Denard Span’s sacrifice fly, then Panik doubled in the third and came home on Buster Posey’s sacrifice fly.

The Rockies’ wild-card advantage had been trimmed to one game by the Brewers to begin the day. Milwaukee then lost to Pittsburgh to preserve Colorado’s one-game lead.

Brandon Crawford hit a solo homer in the third to back Matt Moore (6-14), who earned his first win against Colorado after going 0-2 over his first three outings of the year.

After two consecutive 4-3 walkoff setbacks, the Rockies lost for the fifth time in seven games overall following a six-game winning streak. Colorado dropped a fifth in a row at AT&T Park for its longest skid at the waterfront ballpark since losing nine in a row from Aug. 11, 2012-April 10, 2013.

“This time of year, it’s natural for all of us to magnify things, because it’s coming down to the end,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “And that’s great, which is what we want. That’s what players want, that’s what we want as an organization, to be in this situation.”

Moore struck out six and walked two over six innings, allowing six hits. He was chased in the seventh after back-to-back singles, and Steven Okert entered to face pinch-hitter Pat Valaika. Colorado couldn’t capitalize.

Panik added an RBI single in the seventh, missing hitting for the cycle by a home run. Pablo Sandoval hit two doubles.

“With that team having a lot to play for right now and for us to pick up these last two, especially last night, it feels good,” Moore said.

Colorado finished 12-7 against the Giants this season but is 3-6 at AT&T Park after being swept in a three-game series June 26-28 and again in this quick two-game set.