Luis Matos hits a 3-run homer and Matt Chapman has 4 hits in Giants' 14-4 win over Rockies

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Luis Matos hit a three-run homer and had a career-high six RBIs to continue his hot streak, Matt Chapman went 4 for 4 and scored three runs and the San Francisco Giants used 18 hits to rout the Colorado Rockies on Saturday.

The Giants have won three straight for the first time this season. They were the last team in the majors without a win streak of three or more games.

"We’re swinging the bat really well and I think the vibe in the dugout is probably as good as it’s been," manager Bob Melvin said.

Matos, who drove in five runs Friday night, has RBIs in his last six games and set a franchise record with 17 RBIs in his first six games of the season with a plate appearance. With Jung Hoo Lee out for the season, the 22-year-old Matos figures to keep seeing playing time in center field. He also took away a potential extra-base hit from Ezequiel Tovar with a leaping grab in the fifth.

Matos was hitting just .218 in 31 games with Triple-A Sacramento before being called up for the second time this season last week. He said he's proud of having success in the majors. He's seeing the ball really well and trusting himself more both at the plate and in the field.

“I'm not the one in the stressful situation,” Matos said through interpreter Erwin Higueros of RBI chances. “The pitcher is the one that’s trying to get me out. So I have the upper hand.”

Matos put the Giants ahead with a three-run homer in the first inning, hit an RBI double in his second at-bat to give San Francisco a 6-3 lead and then knocked in two more runs in the eighth with a bases-loaded single as part of a six-run inning.

“I’m just trying to get on base for him,” Chapman said. “I mean, he’s been doing unbelievable.”

Colorado dropped the first two games in San Francisco after winning seven straight. Tovar had two hits to extend his hitting streak to 11 games.

San Francisco has won each of the last seven starts by Kyle Harrison (4-1), who allowed three runs in five innings.

The Giants knocked Rockies starter Ty Blach (1-2) out of the game after three innings, tagging him for six runs. Blach, who was the Giants’ opening day starter in 2018, faced his former team for the sixth time. The Denver-born 33-year-old was drafted by the Giants in 2012 and has been back and forth between the minors and big leagues with Colorado the last three seasons.

“He's just persistent," Rockies manager Bud Black said before the game of Blach's journey. “He loves to play, loves to compete. He’s got a great way about him. He's a persistent major league player.”

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rockies: C Elias Díaz (left hand soreness) remains out of the lineup, but is expected to return as soon as swelling goes away. ... Díaz’s backup, Jacob Stallings, was sore but available Saturday after being hit by a pitch on the right forearm. Utility player Hunter Goodman made his first career start behind the plate. ... OF Nolan Jones and INF/OF Kris Bryant, who both have strained lower backs, each went 1 for 4 on Friday with Triple-A Albuquerque. They will make two more rehab starts before the Rockies determine whether to bring them up.

Giants: Reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell (left adductor strain) is expected to return to the rotation next week, likely Wednesday after pitching well in two rehab starts. ... Another starter, Alex Cobb, is still dealing with a shoulder injury and has not pitched this season so far after undergoing offseason hip surgery. ... With Lee going on the 60-day injured list, the Giants claimed OF Ryan McKenna off waivers from Baltimore.

UP NEXT

RHP Jordan Hicks (3-1, 2.44 ERA) pitches for the Giants against RHP Dakota Hudson (1-6, 6.13 ERA) for the Rockies in the final game of the three-game set.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

San Francisco Giants' Luis Matos runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run against Colorado Rockies pitcher Ty Blach during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 18, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Kyle Harrison throws to a Colorado Rockies batter during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 18, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Colorado Rockies pitcher Ty Blach throws to a San Francisco Giants batter during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 18, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco Giants' Luis Matos runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run against Colorado Rockies pitcher Ty Blach (50) during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 18, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Colorado Rockies' Hunter Goodman reacts after hitting an RBI single against the San Francisco Giants during the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 18, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Colorado Rockies pitcher Peter Lambert, right, stands on the field after walking San Francisco Giants' Mike Yastrzemski, foreground, during the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 18, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco Giants' Heliot Ramos hits an RBI single against the Colorado Rockies during the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 18, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco Giants' LaMonte Wade Jr. scores against the Colorado Rockies on Luis Matos' single during the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 18, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco Giants' Luis Matos, right, celebrates with third base coach Matt Williams after hitting a three-run home run against the Colorado Rockies during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 18, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco Giants' Luis Matos hits a two-run single against the Colorado Rockies during the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 18, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

PHOENIX (AP) — A judge on Friday rejected an effort by GOP lawmakers to use the term “unborn human being” to refer to a fetus in the pamphlet that Arizona voters will use to weigh a ballot measure that would expand abortion access in the state.

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Christopher Whitten said the wording the legislative council suggested is “packed with emotion and partisan meaning” and asked for what he called more “neutral” language. The measure aims to expand abortion access from 15 weeks to 24 weeks – the point at which a fetus can survive outside the womb.

It would allow exemptions to save the woman’s life or to protect her physical or mental health. It would also prevent the state from adopting or enforcing laws that would forbid access to the procedure.

Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma, who is a co-chair of the legislative council, said the group will appeal the court’s decision to the state Supreme Court.

“The ruling is just plain wrong and clearly partisan,” said Toma, a Republican.

Aaron Thacker, communications director for Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, noted that the final decision on the ballot itself remains in the air.

“There’s still a lot of scenarios at play," he said. "Even after the secretary certifies the signatures, the courts have to decide if counties can put it on the ballot or not."

Arizona for Abortion Access, the organization leading the ballot measure campaign, sued the council earlier this month over the suggested language and advocated for the term “fetus,” which the council rejected.

Attorney General Kris Mayes wrote in a motion to submit an amicus brief that “fetus" and “pregnancy” are both neutral terms that the council could adopt.

“It’s incredibly important to us that Arizona voters get to learn more about and weigh our measure in objective and accurate terminology,” said Dawn Penich, communications director for the abortion access group.

Democrats have centered abortion rights in their campaigns in this year’s elections. Organizers in five other states have also proposed similar measures that would codify abortion access in their state constitutions: Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada and South Dakota.

Arizona organizers submitted more than double the amount of signatures needed for the measure to appear on the ballot.

FILE - Arizona abortion-rights supporters deliver over 800,000 petition signatures to the capitol to get abortion rights on the November general election ballot July 3, 2024, in Phoenix. A judge on Friday, July 26, rejected an effort by GOP lawmakers to use the term “unborn human being” to refer to a fetus in the pamphlet that Arizona voters will use to decide on a ballot measure that would expand abortion access in the state. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)