The Giants had done the hard part. For eight innings, their bullpen pieced together one escape after another, and San Francisco carried a one-run lead into the ninth with a chance to finish off the Rockies.
Instead, the final inning turned into another brutal reminder of how quickly this season can unravel.
Caleb Kilian couldn’t get an out. He faced four hitters and retired none, and Kyle Karros - the same Rockies hitter who launched a 471-foot go-ahead homer against San Francisco last week - delivered the decisive blow with a two-run, broken-bat single.
Just like that, a game that had been within reach slipped away, and the Giants were left with a 4-3 loss at Oracle Park. It was Kilian’s 12th blown save charged to San Francisco this season.
The collapse came after a strong stretch from the rest of the relief crew. Dylan Smith worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the sixth.
Keaton Winn, back from the injured list, got two outs. Sam Hentges followed with four more.
That sequence set up what should have been a straightforward finish.
The ninth, though, had one more strange twist left in it.
With one out and runners on first and second, Casey Schmitt lined a ball to center field. Cole Carrigg dove and seemed to catch it, which sent Grant McCray back to second and Luis Arraez retreating to first.
But none of the umpires signaled a catch, Carrigg threw the ball in, and the Rockies tagged both runners. Tony Vitello immediately came out to argue, and the crew went to replay.
After a confusing delay, the review showed Carrigg did not catch the ball. Schmitt was awarded a single, loading the bases with one out and giving the Giants another opening.
Rafael Devers trimmed the deficit with a sacrifice fly, but that only brought San Francisco within one. Willy Adames then worked a walk to load the bases again, putting Bryce Eldridge in position for another big moment. This time, though, Eldridge grounded out to end it.
There was plenty for the Giants to like before the ninth went sideways, starting with Smith’s rescue act in the sixth. Robbie Ray had walked the first three batters he faced in that inning, handing Colorado a bases-loaded chance with the game tied 1-1.
Smith came in and shut the door on the rally, retiring all three hitters he saw. Ray met him with a hug in the dugout after the inning.
Ray’s final line still looked solid: one run allowed over five-plus innings, even though he issued six walks and struck out five.
At the plate, Devers homered for the 19th time this season and reached base four times. Arraez added his 11th three-hit game of the year and stole his team-leading eighth base.
Before the game, the Giants made several roster moves. Winn was activated from the 15-day injured list, and left-hander Carson Whisenhunt was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento. Whisenhunt had allowed two runs over 5 2/3 innings on Thursday and was not expected to get another first-half start, though he could see plenty of work in the second half if the team trades Ray.
The club also placed outfielder Victor Bericoto on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain and recalled Grant McCray from Sacramento, marking McCray’s first time with the team this season.
And there was more bad news on the injury front: the Giants said third baseman Matt Chapman, who is dealing with an abdominal strain, will not take part in baseball activities this weekend. That pushes his return into the second half, despite Tony Vitello’s optimism last week that Chapman might be back before the first half ended.
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