First series loss recorded, and it was uuuuuugly!

The is most certainly a special place in Hell reserved for the (son-to-be) tortured souls who designed Coors Field.

Just your typical day at Coors Field.

San Francisco is a robust 44 games over .500 (211-167) against Colorado since the Rockies franchise debuted. But that success certainly hasn’t been felt in Denver where the Giants are 89-100. That 100th loss game Thursday as they dropped an 11-6 decision at that beautifully-awful ballpark.

It was a true Coors Field afternoon, one of those days when a completely normal contest turned on a benign play and suddenly the runs avalanched out of control. And while the loss wasn’t one of Spilborghian propositions, it is April after all, it did cost tee Giants their first series of the year and solo position atop the NL West.

As is the norm, a simple one-run game spiraled away in a nine-run fifth inning so send the Giants reeling heading into this weekend’s second early-season showdown with Los Angeles.

Mark Reynolds spanks one, and we don't like him beccause of it. (Getty Images)

Things were going reasonably well for the Giants and starter Matt Cain, who carried a one-run lead into the middle innings thanks to some Colorado largesse.

Denard Span opened with a single off Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa, Angel Pagan walked and Buster Posey reached on an error to load the bag with none out. San Francisco was poised for a big inning but squandered the chance, tallying just once courtesy a wild pitch. The 4-5-6 of Hunter Pence, Brandon Belt and Matt Duffy managed only three ground balls, none of which advanced a runner.

Meanwhile, Cain was in rare form. He retired 13 of the first 14 Colorado hitters, a single by the pitcher the only blemish. Then it all caved in.

Cain would surrender a homer to Gerardo Parra to open the Colorado fifth and Mark Reynolds followed with a double. A strikeout followed, then Tony Wolters singled to put runners at the corners. Wolters stole second, then fate stepped in.

With De La Rosa at the plate, Cain surrendered a dunker to right that plated two and started the snowball rolling downhill. A double by DJ LeMahieu sent De La Rosa to third but Trevor Story whiffed, putting Cain one out away from at least halting the carnage. He never got it. Carlos Gonzales walked to load ‘em up again and end Cain’s day.

Chris Heston needed 24 pitches to get that third out, and it came after two doubles, a single and a walk that made it 9-1. Combined, Cain and Heston threw 62 pitches in the frame.

Matty isn't happy. We can relate. (Getty Images)

Cain was eventually charged with six runs on as many hits, striking out seven. Heston threw a quiet sixth but the damage was done. He surrendered three runs on three hits.

As has been their want, the Giants didn’t run up the white flag. Singles by Belt, Pagan, Span and Kelby Tomlinson were joined by two-baggers from Duffy and Ehire Adrianza as the Giants made it 9-4 and loaded the bases (again) with two gone. They seemingly had the right man at the plate, but Posey grounded out to end the threat.

It was a trend. Overall the Giants left seven men on base, six in bases-loaded situations.

It got closer in the eighth when Belt launched a two-run homer; a shot originally ruled in play but overturned on review. A 9-6 lead isn’t safe at Coors, but Colorado got those two runs back in the bottom of the frame on Gonzales’ two-run double off Hunter Strickland.

So the Giants depart Denver having lost two of three, mimicking last season’s 3-6 record in the mountains that would be rocky. Elsewhere the Dodgers toppled Arizona 5-2, meaning the Giants ride a small losing streak while the Dodgers are heading the opposite direction heading into the weekend clash.

The rivals share 6-4 marks, tie atop the division and half a game ahead of the Rockies. Madison Bumgarner (1-0, 3.27 ERA) faces Clayton Kershaw (1-0, 1.20 ERA) when the teams renew hostilities.

The Giants may not go into Sherwood with a full quiver, either.

Cain's rough outing may not be the worst of it, either. Sergio Romo was diagnosed with a strained right flexor tendon and is probably headed for the DL. Brandon Crawford left Thursday’s game with a sore left hip, Joe Panik didn't start because of a sore hip, and Posey returned after missing two games with a bruised foot but left in the bottom of the seventh as a precaution.

Crap. There’s that injury bug again. Anybody got a can of Raid?

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