Vogelsong finishes strong; Wilson done for season

A record-breaking sellout crowd sent off Ryan Vogelsong with a rousing ovation Monday night. But they couldn’t deliver a final salute to their bearded wonder in the bullpen.

Vogelsong pitched seven shutout innings in the Giants’ 3-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies, capping an out-of-nowhere All-Star season in which his 2.71 ERA led a brilliant starting staff.

Closer Brian Wilson did not pick up the save, though. Manager Bruce Bochy confirmed that Wilson, who had missed a month with an inflamed elbow before making two appearances last week, will be shut down for the season.

“I don’t see the point of throwing Brian out there now,” Bochy said. “He wants to pitch. It’s the old risk-reward adage.”

Wilson hustled out of the clubhouse and did not stop when asked for comment, saying, “I’m not going to talk about myself.”

Vogelsong was a much more dramatic topic, anyway. Signed as a minor league free agent, the 34-year-old veteran of the Japanese leagues hadn’t pitched in the majors since 2006 before cracking the Giants rotation in late April.

He ended up tying Tim Lincecum for the staff lead with 13 victories; Vogelsong ranks fourth in the N.L. in ERA, too — just in front of Lincecum (2.74). He cemented a place in next year’s rotation, and probably will score a multiyear contract.

If the Rockies were an electronic gadget instead of a baseball team, their label would read something like this: “Some assembly required, AAA batteries included.”

Going with the kids in September is one thing. Doing it while trying to ride out injuries to Todd Helton, Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez has taken things to the extreme at Coors Field.

“Lineup-wise, we’re somewhat patched up,” Rockies manager Jim Tracy said before the game. “We’re more than somewhat. We’re patched up today, there’s no doubt about it.”

The Rockies’ Friday night lineup included seven players who spent all or part of 2011 in the minor leagues. Mark Ellis and Kevin Kouzmanoff, each of whom opened the season with Oakland, were in the Nos.

DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 16: Starting pitcher Alex White #43 of the Colorado Rockies is removed from the game by manager Jim Tracy #4 in the sixth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field on September 16, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. (Getty Images North America | Doug Pensinger)

3 and 4 holes.

Given the presence of red-hot left-hander Madison Bumgarner on the mound, the results were predictable enough: a 9-1 loss to the Giants. On a more positive note, no further injuries were reported, and the crowd of 47,302 got to stick around for postgame fireworks.

But back to the reality of the Rockies’ lost season.

At this point, they have to hope rookie right-hander Alex White’s struggles are more a byproduct of flawed mechanics and lengthy inactivity than an inability to handle the altitude. At any rate, his struggles in Denver have been alarming, witness his altitude-sick 9.72 ERA in three starts, during which he has served up nine home runs in 16 2/3 innings.

“It has nothing to do with any of the injuries,” said White, who was disabled for more than two months with a torn flexor tendon before being acquired in the Ubaldo Jimenez trade. “To be honest with you, it’s the fifth or sixth time we’ve had this conversation, and I’m so sick of it and frustrated with it. It’s time for this not to happen.”

Said Tracy, when asked if he felt part of White’s struggles were attributable to his injury-marred season: “I’m sure it is. As we move forward, I think we’ll see him getting to the point where he’s comfortable with the ebb and flow of the season and the regularity of his work is there.”

As ugly as the final score was, White had his moments. He induced a double-play ball from Carlos Beltran and struck out Pablo Sandoval. But a two-run homer by Brandon Belt on a hanging splitter and a solo shot by Cody Ross put him in a 3-1 hole entering the sixth.

That’s when “it unraveled very quickly,” Tracy said. “That’s how quickly at this level the game can get away. The learning part is to recognize that, at this level, you can’t afford to misfire. When there are hitters at the plate to get to and put innings down, you’ve got to do so.”

White wouldn’t get out of the inning, allowing a two-out walk, a hit batter and three straight hits, including a double by Bumgarner, before Tracy came with the hook. The bottom line on White’s night: 5 2/3 innings, six earned runs.

“We’re pretty much out of it as a team,” White said. “If we weren’t, I wouldn’t be pitching. I’m just getting the innings, getting the work in, trying to get this stuff out of the way before next year, I hope.”

Jim Armstrong: 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com

Looking ahead

TODAY: Giants at Rockies, 6:10 p.m., Root

A preview of things to come in the National League West: kid lefties Drew Pomeranz and Eric Surkamp squaring off. Pomeranz (1-0, 0.00 ERA) was brilliant in his major- league debut vs. Cincinnati on Sunday, pitching five shutout inningsand with an arm that isn’t at full strength and after working 10 innings in a span of six weeks. Surkamp made the jump from Double-A, where he was 10-4, 2.02 in 23 starts. He’ll be making his fourth start in the majors. Jim Armstrong, The Denver Post

Upcoming pitching matchups

Sunday: Giants’ Matt Cain (11-10, 2.79 ERA) at Rockies’ Esmil Rogers (6-5, 5.88), 1:10 p.m., Root

Monday: Padres’ Cory Luebke (5-9, 3.27) at Rockies’ Kevin Millwood (4-2, 3.68), 6:40 p.m., Root

Tuesday: Padres’ Mat Latos (7-14, 3.73) at Rockies’ Jhoulys Chacin (11-12, 3.73), 6:40 p.m., Root

Wednesday: Padres’ Tim Stauffer (9-12, 3.73) at Rockies’ Aaron Cook (3-9, 5.97), 1:10 p.m., Root

SAN DIEGO — Matt Cain reached a couple of impressive plateaus Wednesday afternoon.

He became the seventh pitcher in the Giants’ San Francisco era to make 200 career starts for the club. He joined another short and distinct list by logging 200 innings for the fifth consecutive season. Still just 26 years old, he already ranks as one of the most durable pitching presences in franchise history.

Yet Cain couldn’t enjoy the view. His career record fell to 68-72 and he is just 11-10 this season after allowing a tiebreaking, sixth-inning single in the Giants’ 3-1 loss to the San Diego Padres.

Cain did his best to keep the Giants in the pennant race. He limited the Padres to four hits and two runs in seven innings, including a home run to Will Venable leading off the first. He paid for only one more bad sequence, when Cameron Maybin hit a two-out double in the sixth and Jesus Guzman grounded a single through the left side to bring him home.

In Yankee pinstripes, Cain might have relaxed on ice in the trainer’s room for the last couple innings before celebrating a victory. But he has pushed the rock up Potrero Hill long enough to know: With the Giants, it doesn’t work that way.

Brett Pill hit a home run in the fifth inning, becoming the 22nd player since 1919 to begin his career with a home run in each of his first two games. John Bowker is the only other Giant on that list, accomplishing the feat in 2008.

But that was all the

Giants could push across despite plenty of base runners against Aaron Harang.

Pill was thrown out at the plate in the seventh inning while trying to score on pinch hitter Pat Burrell’s fly ball to shallow right field. The Giants ran into an out in the eighth when the Padres pitched out and threw down to nab pinch runner Darren Ford trying to swipe second base.

The Giants took the series in San Diego after scoring seven and six runs to win the first two games. But they still haven’t tallied at least six runs in three consecutive games since Aug. 23-25 of last season.

At least the defense supported Cain. Center fielder Justin Christian made a sliding catch to strand two runners in the fourth inning. With that out, Cain officially joined Juan Marichal, Gaylord Perry, Jack Sanford and Jim Barr as the only pitchers in the Giants’ San Francisco era to log 200 innings in five consecutive seasons.

Cain is only halfway to Marichal, who did it 10 consecutive years from 1962-71.

Cain contributed a quality start (at least six innings, no more than three earned runs) for the 24th time in 30 starts — the most among N.L. pitchers.

The Giants fell to 6½ games behind Arizona with 19 to play in the N.L. West, pending the Diamondbacks’ outcome against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

Ryan Vogelsong was a long shot to be a Giant this season. Now he’s looking like a potential National League All-Star.

Vogelsong’s remarkable comeback story just keeps getting better, and the appreciation from the stands keeps getting louder. He received a pair of thunderous ovations in the Giants’ 2-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Sunday afternoon.

First, Vogelsong limited the Rockies to just one run — a Chris Iannetta home run — in eight sparkling innings. Then, after it looked like he was out of the game for a pinch hitter, Vogelsong emerged from the dugout to put down a sacrifice bunt that aided in the tiebreaking run as the Giants found another way to win close and late at home.

After taking two of three from the Rockies, the Giants are 10-2 at home against NL West opponents.

The Giants won with help from their bench and a clutch single by Andres Torres. After pinch hitter Pat Burrell drew a leadoff walk from right-hander Matt Lindstrom, Giants manager Bruce Bochy pulled back rookie Conor Gillaspie from the on-deck circle and had Vogelsong step to the plate.

Vogelsong earned a standing ovation after his bunt dribbled down the first base line, advancing pinch runner Manny Burriss. Torres appeared to go around on a 2-2 pitch that bounced to the screen, moving Burriss to third, but he received another life. He took advantage by lining the next pitch into left-center field.

It came just in time for Vogelsong (4-1)

to earn a victory. The Giants are 6-2 in his eight starts since he took over for disabled left-hander Barry Zito in the rotation. Zito is starting a minor league rehab assignment Monday for Single-A San Jose, but there’s no hurry. Vogelsong has allowed just three earned runs over his last six starts, good for an 0.69 ERA over that span.

Vogelsong is succeeding with movement and command. He even overmatched Carlos Gonzalez, last year’s NL batting champ, while striking him out three times.

The Giants needed to break through against Rockies right-hander Jason Hammel, who had a no-hitter into the sixth inning. Miguel Tejada broke it up with a line single to right field, and with runners at the corners, Freddy Sanchez followed with a tying single up the middle.

Brian Wilson pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning, throwing just 10 pitches.

For more on the Giants, see Andrew Baggarly’s Extra Baggs blog at blogs.mercurynews.com/extrabaggs.

Ryan Vogelsong was a long shot to be a Giant this season. Now he’s looking like a potential National League All-Star.

“It’s one of the best stories I’ve seen since I’ve been in the game,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said after the Giants’ 2-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Sunday afternoon.

The story keeps getting better, and the appreciation from the stands keeps getting louder. Vogelsong received the ovation of his life as he walked off the mound after pitching eight spectacular innings.

In the bottom of the eighth, he received an even stronger outpouring from the standing, sellout crowd. Vogelsong put down a sacrifice bunt, which preceded Andres Torres’ tiebreaking single as the Giants took two of three from Colorado and leapt back into first place in the N.L. West.

“The fans are great here. They know the game,” Vogelsong said. “They know how important it is.

“This is the best thing you could ever experience. I wish everybody could experience what I’m going through right now. It’s awesome.”

It is awesome for any pitcher to allow just three earned runs over a six-start span, as Vogelsong has done while posting a 0.69 ERA. It’s even better when you’re a 33-year-old minor league free agent who hadn’t pitched in the big leagues for four seasons before cracking the roster in mid-April.

It might seem obvious, but Bochy was ready to confirm it: Whenever Barry Zito is ready to return, Vogelsong will remain in the

rotation.

“We’re starting to talk about it,” Bochy acknowledged. “There’s a point we’ll have to figure out what we’ll have to do. It’s obvious Vogey isn’t going anywhere. He’ll go every fifth day. We might have to get creative here.”

Zito will begin his minor league rehab assignment for Single-A San Jose on Monday, when he is expected to throw 85 pitches. He can remain in the minors for a maximum of 30 days. The Giants will need a starter at the end of June, either to pitch during a June 28 doubleheader at Wrigley Field or in the ensuing days. A lot can happen in three weeks.

But Vogelsong (4-1) keeps sustaining his success. With all his pitches snapping across the plate, he held the Rockies to four hits in eight innings, issued just one walk and struck out seven — including three whiffs of reigning N.L. batting champ Carlos Gonzalez, who looked overmatched each time.

Vogelsong has a 1.68 ERA in 10 games (eight starts) and has a 3-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The stats confirm what the eye beholds. Everything about his success looks to be sustainable.

“He wanted to be a Giant, and that was special to us,” said Bochy, who will manage the N.L. All-Star squad and will make final appointments to the roster. “He’s taking full advantage. He’s pitching as well as anybody in the league, really.”

And Vogelsong is appreciative.

“Any experience I had in the big leagues before this was as a long man, pitching when we were blowing a team out or getting blown out — usually getting blown out,” said Vogelsong, who pitched parts of five seasons with Pittsburgh. “So to be on a team like this and be counted on to win games, it’s a great feeling.”

The Giants are 6-2 in Vogelsong’s starts, but they needed a couple of late rallies to make a winner of him after he allowed a home run to Chris Iannetta in the fifth.

Miguel Tejada broke up right-hander Jason Hammel’s no-hit bid with his clean, two-out single in the sixth after Torres walked, and Freddy Sanchez followed with a tying single up the middle.

The Giants pushed ahead in the eighth. After pinch hitter Pat Burrell drew a leadoff walk, Bochy pulled back rookie Conor Gillaspie from the on-deck circle and had Vogelsong step to the plate.

“Vogey handles the bat as well as anybody, really,” said Bochy, who didn’t hesitate to let him face reliever Matt Lindstrom’s upper-90s heat. “That’s not an easy task against a guy throwing that hard. He kept his nose in there.”

Vogelsong’s bunt dribbled down the first-base line, advancing pinch runner Manny Burriss. Torres came close to swinging on a 2-2 pitch that bounced to the screen, moving Burriss to third, but he received another life. He took advantage by lining the next pitch into left-center field.

When told of Bochy’s comments regarding his rotation spot, Vogelsong did not break into a dance. He knows a major league job is a precious thing. He won’t celebrate at someone else’s expense.

“Well, let’s not talk about that,” Vogelsong said.

The cheers say it all.

For more on the Giants, see Andrew Baggarly’s Extra Baggs blog at blogs.mercurynews.com/extrabaggs.

Jhoulys Chacin and three relievers combined to limit the Giants to four hits as the Colorado Rockies beat the Giants 2-1 Saturday for their first win in five tries at AT&T Park this year.

The Giants’ only run came on a solo homer by Cody Ross off Chacin in the bottom of the sixth. Matt Lindstrom, Rafael Betancourt and Huston Street each pitched a scoreless inning to back Chacin (6-4), who didn’t walk a batter and struck out two. Street picked up his 15th save.

Madison Bumgarner (2-7) was the hard-luck loser for San Francisco. Bumgarner gave up an unearned run in the fifth inning when rookie shortstop Brandon Crawford committed a throwing error trying to complete a double play, and the Rockies scratched out a run in top of the sixth for their margin of victory.

Bumgarner wound up pitching seven innings, allowing seven hits and a walk and striking out six.

The Giants, who saw their three-game winning streak snapped, had very few offensive opportunities, putting just three runners in scoring position the entire game beyond Ross’ homer. They made 10 straight outs to conclude the game.