“I had a root canal on Thursday and I’m not sure which was worse,” said Rockies commentator Jeff Huson about today’s baseball game between the Colorado Rockies and San Francisco Giants.
The Rockies entered today’s game with a series win already wrapped up and a chance to sweep a scuffling division rival. Instead, they lost to the Giants in what might end up being the worst game of the 2026 season.
On a combined 396 pitches, there were a combined 25 runs on 35 hits and six errors—though most of those
runs and hits were from just one team. The game lasted a grueling three hours and 38 minutes to become the longest nine-inning game the Rockies have played this season. It was also one of the longest nine-inning games played in the league so far in 2026.
TJ Rumfield was a late pre-game scratch with shoulder soreness, the pitching was unpleasant, the offense could have been better, and ultimately Rockies fans were left with a game they’d love to forget to finish out what has been a largely unpleasant month of May.
A truly spectacular pitching meltdown
With the Giants scoring 19 runs on 25 hits and three Rockies errors over a total of 216 pitches thrown, this afternoon was easily the worst overall pitching performance of the season.
Starting pitcher Tanner Gordon lasted just three innings and threw 75 pitches with only two strikeouts. The Giants opened up the scoring in the first inning with a double—the first of many—a walk, and a single to score their first run and it was all downhill from there. Back-to-back doubles in the second inning plated another run, though it was in this frame that Gordon notched his only two strikeouts of the game.
With just a two run deficit heading into the third inning, it looked like the ship could still be righted. Gordon allowed a single but no other baserunners in what would end up being the only scoreless inning of the game for Rockies pitching.
Gordon started the fourth inning by giving up his fourth double of the game and then hitting catcher Daniel Susac in the (helmeted) head to end his afternoon. He was replaced by bullpen lefty Brennan Bernardino, who immediately threw a ball into the outfield checking a runner to have both runners advance. He then gave up a single, a walk, and a sacrifice fly for another two runs to score. Both runs were credited to Gordon.
The fifth inning is where things completely fell apart. With a close 4-3 ballgame, Zach Agnos—sporting a newly grown beard—took the mound. Things got ugly quick.
The Giants sent 11 batters to the plate and scored seven runs in the fifth inning. Agnos gave up five extra-base hits—three doubles, a triple, and a home run—with a grand slam following an intentional walk to load the bases sealing the Rockies’ fate. Six of the seven runs allowed by Agnos came with two outs and his ERA for the season jumped to an ugly 7.78.
The Rockies sent out Keegan Thompson, Juan Mejia, and finally Brett Sullivan to finish the game in mop-up duty. All three gave up multiple hits and multiple runs.
Feared catcher reliever Brett Sullivan was finally made to look mortal, giving up his first two earned runs of the season. It was his fourth appearance as a reliever in ten days.
Hard and loud contact was ultimately what the Giants brought to the table against Rockies pitching. Of their 25 total hits, 13 were for extra bases: nine doubles, a triple, and three home runs.
What offense would have been enough?
In another world, the Rockies could have won this game and swept the Giants with a generally decent outing from their bats. The Rockies scored six runs on ten hits and drew five walks against San Francisco pitching while their defense committed three errors. However, there’s not a lot you can do when the pitching staff gives up 19 runs and you don’t capitalize on the many opportunities you had available to you.
The Rockies had at least one baserunner in every inning except for the ninth—which, by then everyone from the Rockies to the Giants to the Umpires were ready to call it a day. In several innings they had multiple baserunners. However, they ended the day going just 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position and left ten men stranded. They also had just three extra-base hits compared to the Giants’ 13.
For what it’s worth, a few Rockies hitters did have genuinely solid days at the plate. Tyler Freeman went 3-for-4 with a walk and a double, Kyle Karros went 2-for-4 with a walk and a double, and Troy Johnston went 2-for-5 with an RBI.
Infielder Chad Stevens drew two walks despite going hitless, and backup catcher Braxton Fulford had just one hit but used it to drive in two of the Rockies’ six runs.
Up Next
The Rockies are back out on the road with a series against another basement dweller. With a record of 23-27, the Los Angeles Angels are just one win above the Rockies and the Detroit Tigers for the worst record in Major League Baseball.
California games also mean late start times. Tomorrow’s series opener will kick off at 7:38 PM MDT with a match-up between struggling veteran lefty Kyle Freeland and right-handed Angels ace José Soriano.
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