SAN FRANCISCO — There was plenty of drama at AT&T Park Tuesday night, what with Nolan Arenado’s catch for the ages and another Rockies road victory.

But some of the drama ended when manager Walt Weiss informed right-hander Adam Ottavino that he is the Rockies’ new closer.

Ottavino responded by shutting the door on the Giants in the ninth inning of Colorado’s 4-1 victory, notching the second save of his career. He got his first save on July 30, 2014, at Chicago vs. the Cubs.

Tuesday night, Ottavino whiffed all three Giants batters he faced. He struck out lefty Brandon Crawford with a nasty 83 mph slider for the first out. Then he struck out pinch-hitter Justin Maxwell looking at an 85 mph slider. Then he finished off his hat trick by fanning Nori Aoki with an 85 mph slider.

“Otto was dominant tonight,” Weiss said.

Ottavino, 29, said he’s prepared for the next big thing in his career.

“Of course I feel ready,” Ottavino said. “Before last year, I hadn’t really pitched that much with the game on the line, but I’m more used to it now. I also think I’ve made some adjustments vs. lefties, and I did pretty good against them in the spring. I feel more confident right now than I ever have on the mound.”

The disparity between lefties and righties has been pretty severe in Ottavino’s career. Right-handed batters have hit .234 against him, compared with .321 by left-handers. But more heat on Ottavino’s fastball could help eliminate his troubles vs. lefties.

So far in 2015, he has dominated hitters by mixing his fiendish slider with his 94-98 mph fastball. In four innings, he has allowed one hit and one walk while striking out seven.

“He’s got closer’s stuff,” Weiss said.

While some pitchers fret the psychology involved in being a closer, Ottavino does not.

“Probably too much is made of it,” he said. “But I guess it’s human nature when you lose a game in the ninth that it hurts more. But that’s not the reality of it, because every outing carries equal weight in my mind.”

Chacin signs with Cleveland. The Cleveland Indians signed former Rockies right-hander Jhoulys Chacin to a minor-league deal Tuesday.

Chacin struggled with the Rockies last season, posting a 5.40 ERA over 11 starts while battling a shoulder injury. The Rockies counted on rest and rehabilitation to correct Chacin’s shoulder issues, but they released him after he struggled in spring training.

Footnotes:

The starter Sunday at the Los Angeles Dodgers could depend on how lefty Jorge De La Rosa performed in a rehab start for Triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday night. If his strained left groin causes no problems, De La Rosa could get the ball. If not, right-hander Eddie Butler will pitch. … In the first seven games of the season, five Rockies were hitting .300 or above entering Tuesday: DJ LeMahieu (.517), Troy Tulowitzki (.370), Corey Dickerson (.357), Nolan Arenado (.333) and Nick Hundley (.333).

Looking ahead



Rockies’ Tyler Matzek (0-0, 2.25 ERA) at Giants’ Tim Lincecum (0-0, 0.00), 8:15 p.m. Wednesday, ROOT; 850 AM

Like rotation mate Eddie Butler, Matzek has walked a tightrope in the early going. In the Rockies’ home opener, the left-hander’s fastball command was absent as he walked three and hit two in his four-plus innings. He managed to limit the damage to just one run, but he needs to be much better. Lincecum has started off strong, as usual. He owns a career 17-9 record and a 3.18 ERA in March and April. But the two-time Cy Young Award winner has not dominated the Rockies, going 11-9 with a 3.92. Don’t be shocked to see Wilin Rosario get a start at first base. In 19 at-bats vs. Lincecum, Rosario has six hits, including two homers, two doubles and four RBIs.

Thursday: Off

Friday: Rockies’ Kyle Kendrick (1-1, 6.00 ERA) at Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw (0-1, 5.84), 8:10 p.m., ROOT

Saturday: Rockies’ Jordan Lyles (1-0, 2.25) at Dodgers’ Zack Greinke (1-0, 0.69), 7:10 p.m., ROOT

Sunday: Rockies’ Eddie Butler (1-0, 1.64) at Dodgers’ Brandon McCarthy (1-0, 6.75), 2:10 p.m., ROOT