D-backs outlast Rockies in NL wild-card game

(TSX / STATS) -- PHOENIX -- Even with a six-run lead through three innings, the Arizona Diamondbacks understood they had to keep scoring.

They know the division-rival Colorado Rockies too well.

Paul Goldschmidt and Daniel Descalso homered, Archie Bradley and A.J. Pollock had two-run triples, and the Diamondbacks advanced to the National League Division Series with an 11-8 victory over the Rockies in the NL wild-card game on Wednesday at Chase Field.

Neither team's ace lasted four innings.

"That was a wild game," Descalso said. "It felt like the team that scored last was going to win. That offense, they kept coming. They are not going to quit, just like we are not going to quit. That's a great game out there.

"You put Zack Greinke against Jon Gray, it could be a one-nothing, two-one type game. But anything can happen in a wild-card game."

Goldschmidt hit a three-run homer in the first inning and Descalso added a two-run shot in the third for a 6-0 lead, but Colorado climbed back within one run in the seventh and eighth innings before Bradley and Pollock provided insurance.

Arizona advances to meet the Los Angeles in the best-of-five NL Division Series starting Friday at Dodger Stadium.

Jake Lamb had four hits, tying a franchise postseason record, and David Peralta and Ketel Marle had three hits apiece for Arizona, making its first playoff appearance since 2011.

Marte had two triples as the Diamondbacks became the first team with at least four triples in a playoff game since the Boston Americans had five twice in 1903.

"To tell you the truth, I'm not totally shocked," Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said.

Arizona knocked out Colorado starter Jon Gray (0-1) after he gave up four runs and seven hits in 1 1/3 innings. His only two 10-strikeout games in the regular season came against Arizona.

Greinke did not last much longer, leaving after giving up four runs and five hits in the fourth inning when the Rockies closed it to 6-4. It was 6-5 after Charlie Blackmon's RBI bunt in the seventh.

Bradley's two-out triple gave Arizona an 8-5 lead in the last of the seventh before Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story had bases-empty homers off Bradley in the eighth inning to make it 8-7.

Pollock's two-out, two-run triple in the bottom of the eighth off Greg Holland pushed the lead to 10-7, and Jeff Mathis' bunt single drove in another run.

Carlos Gonzalez singled home a run in the ninth inning off Fernando Rodney.

Arizona left-hander Andrew Chafin (1-0) retired the only batter he faced after relieving Greinke in the fourth inning for the victory.

Story, Gonzalez, Gerardo Parra and Jonathan Lucroy had two hits apiece for the Rockies.

"I don't think you could predict that game coming into this ballpark and in this scenario, with the way Jon Gray's been pitching and Zack Greinke's been pitching," Colorado manager Bud Black said.

"Right away, all hell broke loose, and from then on it was a heavyweight fight, going back and forth. It was a crazy game."

Arizona started immediately against Gray. Peralta and Marte singled before Goldschmidt homered on the seventh pitch of the first inning for a 3-0 lead.

Goldschmidt ended the regular season in an 0-for-17 slide, and he was 0-for-11 against Gray in his career.

Peralta singled and scored on Marte's triple in the second inning to make it 4-0 and knock out Gray. Lamb singled and Descalso hit a one-out homer off Tyler Anderson for a 6-0 lead.

In the Colorado fourth inning, Gonzalez, Story and Parra singled for one run. After the second run scored on a groundout, Lucroy and pinch hitter Alexi Amarista had RBIs hits to make it 6-4.

Greinke gave up six hits and four runs in 3 2/3 innings. He struck out one and walked one.

NOTES: This was the fourth meeting between teams from the same division in wild-card history, and the team with the best record in the season series has won all four. The first three were Pittsburgh over Cincinnati (2013), the Chicago Cubs over Pittsburgh (2015) and Toronto over Baltimore (2016). ... NL wild-card hosts had not scored since 2013, a span of 28 innings, until Arizona got three runs in the first inning. ... Colorado ended a seven-year postseason drought, the fifth-longest current streak. Seattle (2001) has the longest. ... Colorado swept Arizona in the 2007 NL Championship Series in the only other time the clubs met in the playoffs. ... Arizona honored former front office employee Christiana Duarte during a moment of silence before the game. She was among those killed in the recent Las Vegas shooting. ... The Diamondbacks won the season series with the Dodgers 11-8, winning the last six meetings.

A capsule look at the Rockies-Diamondbacks playoff game

Associated Press

A look at the National League wild-card playoff between the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks:

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Schedule: Wednesday, at Phoenix, 8:08 p.m. (TBS).

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Season Series: Arizona won 11-8.

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Projected Lineups:

Rockies: CF Charlie Blackmon (.331, NL batting champ, 37 HRs, 104 RBIs, 14 triples, 14 SBs), 2B DJ LeMahieu (.310, 8, 64), 3B Nolan Arenado (.309, 37, 130), RF Carlos Gonzalez (.262, 14, 57, 34 doubles), SS Trevor Story (.239, 24, 82, 191 Ks), 1B Mark Reynolds (.267, 30, 97), LF Ian Desmond (.274, 7, 40), C Jonathan Lucroy (.265, 6, 40 with Rangers and Rockies; .310, 2, 13 in 46 games with Rockies).

Diamondbacks: RF David Peralta (.293, 14, 57), SS Ketel Marte (.260, 5, 18 in 73 games), 1B Paul Goldschmidt (.297, 36, 120, 94 BBs, .966 OPS), LF J.D. Martinez (.303, 45, 104, 1.066 OPS with Tigers and Diamondbacks), 3B Jake Lamb (.248, 30, 105), CF A.J. Pollock (.266, 14, 49 in 112 games), 2B Daniel Descalso (.233, 10, 51 in 131 games), C Jeff Mathis (.215, 2, 11 in 60 games) or Chris Iannetta (.254, 17, 43, .354 OBP).

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Starting Pitchers:

Rockies: RH Jon Gray (10-6, 3.67 ERA in 20 starts, 110 1/3 IP).

Diamondbacks: RH Zack Greinke (17-7, 3.20, 215 Ks in 202 1/3 IP).

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Relievers:

Rockies: RH Greg Holland (3-6, 3.61 ERA, 41/45 saves, tied for NL lead), LH Mike Dunn (5-1, 4.47), LH Jake McGee (0-2, 3.61, 3 saves), RH Scott Oberg (0-1, 4.94), RH Pat Neshek (5-3, 1.59 with Phillies and Rockies; 2-1, 2.45 in 28 games with Rockies), LH Chris Rusin (5-1, 2.65, 2 saves).

Diamondbacks: RH Fernando Rodney (5-4, 4.23, 39/45 saves, .200 opponents’ batting average), RH Archie Bradley (3-3, 1.73, 79 Ks in 73 innings), LH Andrew Chafin (1-0, 3.51), LH Robbie Ray (15-5, 2.89, 218 Ks in 28 starts), LH Patrick Corbin (14-13, 4.03 in 33 games, 32 starts), RH Zack Godley (8-9, 3.37, 165 Ks in 26 games, 25 starts), RH David Hernandez (2-1, 4.82), RH Jimmie Sherfy (2-0, 0.00 in 10 2/3 innings).

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Matchups:

It’s the second postseason meeting between the teams. Colorado swept Arizona in the 2007 NLCS. ... The current collection of Rockies has a .260 combined batting average against Greinke with 15 homers and 42 RBIs. Lucroy leads the way at .636 (7 for 11), while Gonzalez has five home runs. Reynolds and Story each have four homers against Greinke. Arenado and Blackmon have never homered off him. Desmond is 3 for 22. ... The Diamondbacks are hitting .295 against Gray with two homers and 11 RBIs. Martinez has both homers, and four RBIs. Goldschmidt is 0 for 11 with five strikeouts. ... Greinke is 13-1 at home with a 2.87 ERA and 131 strikeouts in 116 innings. He went 2-1 with a 3.41 ERA in five starts against the Rockies this season. ... If first-year Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo decides to go with Iannetta instead of Mathis at catcher, Iannetta would probably bat second. Mathis, a strong defender who normally catches Greinke when healthy, just returned from a broken right hand. ... Gray has allowed three or fewer runs in 13 consecutive starts. ... Goldschmidt ended the season in an 0-for-17 slump and batted .171 over the final month. ... Martinez hit .478 against Colorado with three homers, nine RBIs and 10 runs scored. ... Two of Rodney’s six blown saves came against the Rockies. ... Blackmon had only eight hits in 44 at-bats (.182) vs. the Diamondbacks. ... Arizona and Colorado split 10 games at Chase Field this season. ... The winner heads for Los Angeles to play the NL West champion Dodgers (104-58) in a best-of-five Division Series beginning Friday.

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Big Picture:

Rockies: Under new manager Bud Black, the surprising Rockies (87-75) got off to a fast start and hung on down the stretch to take the second NL wild card. This is their fourth postseason appearance and first since 2009. Colorado finished a game ahead of upstart Milwaukee, clinching baseball’s final playoff spot on the next-to-last day of the regular season when the Brewers blew a six-run lead in a 7-6 loss at St. Louis. That put Black in the postseason for the first time as a big league skipper. He managed the Padres for 8½ seasons from 2007-15 and was the 2010 NL Manager of the Year, but never took them to the playoffs. ... Colorado improved by 12 wins over last year and fashioned the third-best record in team history behind 2009 (92-70) and the 2007 team (89-73) that got swept by Boston in the World Series. ... Rockies had just one losing month, going 12-15 in August, and typically play solid defense. They are 65-40 when committing no errors and 22-35 when they make one or more. Arenado made one highlight reel after another at third base and is a favorite for his fifth straight Gold Glove. ... The biggest offseason signings were Desmond and Holland. Desmond has dealt with injuries this season, but Holland rebounded after missing 2016 as he recovered from Tommy John surgery. He matched the club record for saves in a season set by Jose Jimenez (2002). ... Blackmon is known for his bushy beard, mullet and sweet swing. He won the NL batting title and drove in 103 runs from the leadoff spot, most in major league history. He surpassed Darin Erstad, who knocked in 100 for the Angels in 2000. ... Gonzalez struggled most of the season but hit .377 in September. He’s the only holdover from 2009 when the Rockies were beaten by Philadelphia in the NLDS. ... Lucroy steadied a young pitching staff after arriving from Texas in a July 30 trade. ... Right-hander Chad Bettis has been a feel-good story in his return from testicular cancer. He had surgery last November and went through treatments during spring training and into the season before returning in August. ... Reynolds was signed to a minor league contract in the offseason. He joined Arenado and Blackmon in the 30-homer club this season.

Diamondbacks: Just like the Rockies, Arizona (93-69) also flipped its record after going 69-93 last year. Lovullo preached communication from the first day of spring training and repeatedly uses the word “love” to describe team chemistry. ... New general manager Mike Hazen chose not to overhaul the roster, saying he saw enough talent. Instead, he tinkered around the edges. ... Arizona got off to a 6-1 start and was 44-26 on June 18 after a seven-game winning streak. Although the Diamondbacks couldn’t keep up with the torrid pace set by Los Angeles in the NL West, they were in the playoff picture throughout. A franchise-record 13-game winning streak late in the season helped secure the No. 1 wild card. ... While the lineup was expected to be good, Arizona also got strong pitching. Only the Indians and Dodgers had a better ERA than the Diamondbacks (3.66). ... Goldschmidt led the offense most of the season but faded in September. That didn’t matter much because of the powerhouse performance by Martinez. Acquired from Detroit on July 18 for three minor leaguers, Martinez hit .302 with 29 homers and 65 RBIs in 62 games with the Diamondbacks. He was NL player of the month for September, when he batted .404 with 26 runs, eight doubles, 16 homers and 36 RBIs in 24 games.

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Watch For:

— MVP! MVP! MVP! Three top contenders for NL MVP are in this game: Goldschmidt, Blackmon and Arenado. Goldschmidt finished runner-up for the award in 2013 and 2015. Arenado hit 18 home runs on the road this season and 19 at home. Blackmon’s 37 homers were the third-most by a leadoff hitter, trailing Alfonso Soriano’s 38 in 2002 with the Yankees and 39 in 2006 with the Nationals.

— Ray in Reserve. The hard-throwing lefty had a breakout season and would figure to start Game 1 against the Dodgers if Arizona advances. Lovullo, however, said he wouldn’t hesitate to use Ray for an inning or two in the wild-card game if needed.

— Wacky Wednesday. The Rockies have a winning record on every day of the week except one. They are 10-14 on Wednesdays, while the Diamondbacks are 15-10.

— Surging Center Fielder. Pollock came on strong at the end of the season after a subpar year at the plate. He batted .363 in September.

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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

Padres shut out struggling Rockies

(TSX / STATS) -- SAN DIEGO -- Jhoulys Chacin pitched six effective innings as the San Diego Padres beat the Colorado Rockies 5-0 on Saturday night.

The fading Rockies' lead over the Milwaukee Brewers was shaved to one game for the second National League wild-card spot as Colorado managed but five hits.

Chacin (13-10) surrendered a hit and three walks to his former team and struck out six in winning his fourth straight start at Petco Park. He beat the Rockies, who were shut out for the third time in four games, for the first time in three starts in 2017.

Four Padres relievers, with Brad Hand pitching the ninth, finished off the Rockies as they fell for the fifth time in six games.

Chad Bettis (1-4) lost for the third time in his last four decisions. He lasted 4 2/3 innings and gave up a run and seven hits with two walks. He struck out three.

The Padres added three runs in the eighth, with Ian Desmond's throwing error accounting for one of the runs. The RBIs came from pinch-hitter Erick Aybar and Manuel Margot.

The Rockies, trailing 2-0, got to reliever Craig Stammen after Chacin's exit.

Desmond and Jonathan Lucroy produced one-out singles, but Stammen struck out pinch-hitter Raimel Tapia before southpaw Buddy Baumann came on to face the left-handed-hitting Charlie Blackmon. Baumann fanned the NL's batting leader to halt the rally.

Chacin, who tied Clayton Richard with his team-high 31st start, got out of a first-inning jam after DJ LeMahieu walked and Nolan Arenado reached on an error by second baseman by Carlos Asuaje. Chacin retired Gerardo Parra on a flyout to end the inning.

Bettis had to tiptoe around trouble with runners reaching base in each of the first five innings. He was bitten in the fifth when the Padres chased him after 85 pitches on Yangervis Solarte's RBI single as the Padres took a 1-0 lead.

NOTES: Rockies LHP Kyle Freeman will continue to pitch out of the bullpen, although he could get a spot start next weekend against the Dodgers. .... Padres LF Travis Jankowski started in left field, which has been the case against right-handed starters. ... CF Manuel Margot was thrown out attempting to steal, which snapped his streak at 10 straight stolen bases. He did extend his hitting streak to seven games.

Arenado, Rockies clobber slumping Dodgers

(TSX / STATS) -- LOS ANGELES -- It no longer matters what the Los Angeles Dodgers try these days. They continue to be pushovers during a spectacular freefall.

Clayton Kershaw was asked to ride to the rescue Thursday, but he only became the latest Dodger to stumble awkwardly.

Nolan Arenado hit a three-run homer three batters into the game, and the Colorado Rockies rolled to a 9-1 victory in the opener of a four-game series.

The Dodgers still own the best record in baseball at 92-48, but they have dropped 12 of their past 13 games, and there appears to be no end in sight to their slide. Their lead in the National League West over the Arizona Diamondbacks -- 21 games two weeks ago -- is down to 10 games.

"We don't think that we're a bad team," Kershaw said. "We won that many games for a reason. We played that well for that long for a reason. We are a very good team and we know that, but we're not showing it right now, for sure."

Carlos Gonzalez had three hits for the Rockies, while Arenado, Mark Reynolds, Trevor Story, Jonathan Lucroy and Charlie Blackmon had two hits apiece. DJ LeMahieu extended his season-best hitting streak to 15 games with a first-inning double.

Jon Gray (7-4) limited Los Angeles to one run on four hits and two walks in six innings. He struck out three. Mike Dunn, Scott Oberg and Adam Ottavino concluded the rout with a scoreless inning apiece.

Colorado increased its lead for the second NL wild card to three games over the St. Louis Cardinals and the Milwaukee Brewers. And they made it look easy.

"We know how good he is. We know that wasn't one of his better starts, but he's still Clayton Kershaw," Arenado said. "Lucky enough, I was able to get a pitch to hit. He missed his spot, and I was able to take advantage of the missed spot."

Kershaw gave up hits to the first four Rockies batters, including Arenado's three-run shot. It was the first time in his career he surrendered hits to the first four batters, doing so in his second start since coming off the disabled list after recovering from a lower back strain.

The Rockies pushed the lead to 4-0 on a third-inning sacrifice fly from Lucroy.

"It's bad right now; there is no getting around that," Kershaw said. "When you compare it to the first half, or the first however many games we played, it's the stark opposite. If anything, it doesn't make this easier, but thankfully we did win so many games early so we have a little bit of a lead right now."

Kershaw (16-3) staggered to a 28-pitch first inning. He was at 55 pitches after two innings and had reached 86 when he was pulled after 3 2/3 innings. Kershaw showed his frustration when he slammed his glove into the back wall of the dugout.

He finished the night giving up four runs and six hits, striking out seven while walking three. It was only the third time in 23 starts that he had walked at least three batters in a game.

Roberts attributed the early exit to both his left-hander's struggles and the close proximity to Kershaw's DL stint.

"I think if you look at the first couple of innings, there was stress, and to try to get him to (keep going), to what end is there to just keep him out there?" Roberts said. "To start the fourth inning at 71 pitches, I felt good that he could potentially have a quick inning and feel good about that outing. As we got up to 85, 86 (pitches), I didn't want to push him any further."

Kershaw was trying to become the first Dodgers pitcher to open a season 17-2 since the team moved to Los Angeles.

The Rockies had stumbled to a 3-6 record on their just-completed homestand and were looking to get back on track against the struggling Dodgers.

After going more than a week without a home run, Arenado crushed his 31st on the first pitch from Kershaw. It have him 15 home runs on the road, to go along with 16 at home.

"I don't want to get all dramatic here, but you can make the argument that that was our biggest win of the year," Arenado said. "Just a big win, coming to L.A. after a tough loss last night (at home against the San Francisco Giants), getting in late and just winning like that. Jon Gray pitched a great game for us, and it was just a big win."

Top Dodgers pitching prospect Walker Buehler made his major league debut in the eighth inning and hit 100 mph on the stadium radar gun with his second career pitch. He gave up a single to Gonzalez, his first batter, but faced the minimum six batters over two scoreless innings thanks to a double play. He struck out two, including Blackmon looking.

"Obviously, it was a pretty cool experience," Buehler said. "I felt like I threw the ball well, but unfortunately it was in a loss, so it was a little mixed emotion. But it was a special night for me."

Chris Taylor and Bellinger each had two hits for Los Angeles.

NOTES: Rockies C Ryan Hanigan (left groin strain) was activated from the 10-day disabled list, while CF Ramiel Tapia was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque. ... Dodgers 1B Adrian Gonzalez received an epidural shot on his ailing lower back and is expected to be out of action for a few days. ... Dodgers SS Corey Seager is expected to return to the starting lineup Friday after not starting since Aug. 27 because of a sore right elbow.

Dodgers count on Kershaw to be stopper again

Stats, LLC

(TSX / STATS) -- LOS ANGELES -- Freshly recovered from a lower back strain, Clayton Kershaw once again will pile the weight of the Los Angeles Dodgers' hopes and dreams upon his sturdy frame.

Kershaw will take the mound Thursday against the Colorado Rockies, pitching not only for a first-place club, but for a division leader that has been far from the dominating force it was during the first four months of the season.

Actually, the Dodgers (92-47) have been downright awful of late, losing 11 of their past 12 games, including the past six in a row, a season-worst skid. The Arizona Diamondbacks just completed a three-game sweep of the Dodgers on Wednesday to go with the three-game sweep of Los Angeles last week.

The one victory in the Dodgers' past 12 games ended a five-game losing streak, when Kershaw returned from the disabled list and fired six scoreless innings, allowing just two hits at San Diego on Friday. The Padres never hit the ball out of the infield against him in a 1-0 Los Angeles victory.

"You never truly know until you get back on a big-league mound and get big-league hitters out," Kershaw said after the game. "So (that) was definitely a good step in the right direction."

The Dodgers have lost 10 1/2 games off their National League West lead in 12 days, but they still have a 10 1/2-game lead with just over three weeks remaining.

"The last game we won was when Clayton took the mound," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "I know our only focus now is that we have to turn the page on this series and figure out a way to win a game (Thursday)."

Even in a season in which they had been considered one of the best Dodgers teams in history, winning 90 games before the calendar flipped to September, the club still must lean hard and heavy on its ace.

It was hard not to be impressed Friday with the effort from Kershaw (16-2, 1.95 ERA).

"It's nice to have him back, and feeling healthy," veteran Chase Utley said. "He looked like he really didn't skip a beat, to be honest with you."

The Rockies do not figure to take Kershaw lightly, even though he just missed 5 1/2 weeks of action. Kershaw's four starts against the Rockies this season are his most against any team, and he is 3-1 with a 2.77 ERA over 26 innings.

In 35 career starts against Colorado, Kershaw is 21-6 with a 3.05 ERA, and the Rockies were the victim of the lefty's lone no-hitter, in June 2014.

Tasked with matching Kershaw on Thursday will be Rockies right-hander Jon Gray (6-4, 4.26 ERA), who was the losing pitcher in two of his past three starts.

In his most recent outing, Saturday at home against Arizona, he gave up three runs on five hits over five innings. The runs all came on a first-inning homer from J.D. Martinez.

The Dodgers can sympathize. Martinez hit four home runs against the Dodgers in the Monday game alone, becoming the 18th player to accomplish the feat.

Gray, who has struggled with tempo early in starts, said he was out of sorts early against the Diamondbacks, but he corrected the problem later. He hopes to take that progress into Los Angeles, where he struck out 10 batters in a 2016 start.

"Everything started to come together at the end a little bit. Even my feel just got better," Gray said after his Saturday outing, according to MLB.com. "(I) threw some good curveballs, we mixed well, threw some good heaters in, and it seemed like things were rolling again. ... But it was just too late."

Gray has faced the Dodgers once this season, giving up one run on four hits over 5 1/3 innings of an April 8 no-decision. He is just 2-3 against Los Angeles in his career over seven starts, producing a solid 3.75 ERA in 36 innings.

Panik helps Giants finally win at Coors Field

(TSX / STATS) -- DENVER -- His bat was feeling a little heavy, so Joe Panik decided to choke up when the San Francisco Giants began a series at Coors Field on Monday.

The second baseman was looking for a pick-me-up in September. He ended up making franchise history Wednesday night for the Giants, who finally won a game at Coors Field when they walloped the Colorado Rockies 11-3.

Panik tied a career high with five hits Wednesday and went 12-for-15 to set a franchise record for the most hits in a three-game series. He surpassed Mike Benjamin, who had 11 hits in a 1995 series at the Chicago Cubs, and Hall of Famers Freddie Lindstrom, who had 11 hits in a three-game series in June 1928, and Bill Terry, who had 11 hits in a three-game series in June 1929.

"I was lucky and fortunate to have played (with) and managed Tony Gwynn," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "He had some great series, but I don't recall him having a series like this. That's pretty amazing what Joe did."

Panik is the fourth major-leaguer to have 12 hits in a three-game series -- the first since Jerry Remy for the Boston Red Sox in 1981. No major league player has ever had 13 hits in a three-game series.

"Everything seems to go slow and it's allowing me to see the ball real well," Panik said. "It's a good feeling to be in. Every time up there, I feel I can be patient and take a strike, be aggressive and whack at the first pitch. I feel like I'm in control of the at-bat right now."

San Francisco's Gorkys Hernandez had three RBIs, and Panik drove in two runs. Austin Slater singled home two runs in the first, and Nick Hundley hit a 450-foot, two-run homer in the eighth.

It took exactly one year, but the Giants avoided more embarrassment in what has been a forgettable season. The Giants were 0-9 at Coors Field this season and had dropped 10 straight games in Denver since last winning there Sept. 6, 2016.

"It's good not to get skunked here," Bochy said. "I guess if you're going to win one, the last one is the way to go."

The Rockies, who concluded a 3-6 homestand, are two games ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals and 2 1/2 games up on the Milwaukee Brewers in the race for the second National League wild card.

The Rockies begin a challenging eight-game trip Thursday against the top teams in the NL West -- four games at Dodger Stadium and four at Arizona.

"It's important for us to play the way we have the whole year," Rockies right fielder Carlos Gonzalez said. "Not go out and be a hero, go out and play like a team."

Johnny Cueto (7-7) limited the Rockies to five hits and one run in five innings but needed 98 pitches to get that far. Cueto is 9-3 with a 2.66 ERA in 15 career starts against the Rockies and 5-2 with a 3.26 ERA in eight starts at Coors Field.

He was making his second start after missing 45 games with blister issues and a flexor tendon strain.

"He worked hard," Bochy said. "He logged some pitches. We got him where we thought we'd get him, around 90 (pitches) or in that area. It happened to be five innings. To be honest, I was hoping it might be six or seven. But good job, good command. Held them to one run. That's a good job in this ballpark."

Charlie Blackmon hit his 34th homer, in the seventh, after Giants pinch hitter Mac Williamson hit a homer in the top of the inning off Jeff Hoffman, who gave up two runs in the sixth on Panik's double and Brandon Crawford's bloop single.

Hoffman relieved starter Kyle Freeland (11-10), who allowed seven hits and five runs (three earned) in 3 1/3 innings. Freeland walked two and struck out four. It was the shortest start of his career, excluding Aug. 4 when a first-inning injury forced him out of the game.

But the story was Panik, who went 5-for-6. He raised his average 18 points in the series to .285.

"At this time of the year, you're always going up two (points), down two," Panik said. "To make that type of move, it's pretty incredible."

NOTES: Giants C Buster Posey, who was hit on the fourth finger of his right hand with a foul tip Tuesday, didn't play. The Giants hope he can play first base or designated hitter on Friday at the Chicago White Sox. ... Rockies 2B DJ LeMahieu extended his season-high hitting streak to 14 games. ... 3B Pablo Sandoval took a third strike pinch-hitting in the sixth and is 0-for-38, the longest hitless streak by a Giants position player since the franchise moved to San Francisco in 1958. ... Colorado RF Carlos Gonzalez batted third for the first time since June 11. He went 2-for-2 with a walk. ... RHP Jeff Hoffman will likely make his first start for the Rockies since Aug. 17 on Sunday at the Los Angeles Dodgers when the fifth starter's turn arises. He gave up three runs in two innings Wednesday. ... Rockies OF Raimel Tapia will be recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday.

Valaika's blast lifts Rockies over Royals

(TSX / STATS) -- KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Pat Valaika got the pitch he expected and in words "didn't miss it."

Valaika homered in the eighth inning as the Colorado Rockies came from behind to down the Kansas City Royals 3-2 on Thursday afternoon.

"An educated guess, I'd say," Valaika said on what Minor might serve up with the count full. "Just watching video, I think that's his pitch, so kind of in the back of my mind."

Valaika homered with two outs with Gerardo Parra aboard off left-hander Minor. That snapped a four-game Rockies' losing streak.

"He's had a nice year for us," Rockies manager Buddy Black said. "But, that's what it takes. A big swing changes the complex of all three games and today was our turn. Yesterday was their turn. We had a chance in game one in the ninth, with Pat, when two outs and (Scott) Alexander came in and made a pitch.

"But, those are three really good games, when you think about the excitement at the end. A little bit of the drama of a tight game where every pitch is critical as the game moves into the later innings, those are three good games."

Minor called it a "terrible pitch" to Valaika.

"I don't want to walk him, but obviously there are bases open," Minor said. "I wanted to make a quality pitch. I threw three in a row right there and all three were bad. (To) Valaika, I just didn't make any good pitches. I'll be out there again. I've got to move on."

Greg Holland, who blew a save Wednesday when he allowed a three-run walk-off home run to former teammate Eric Hosmer, logged his 36th save in 40 chances with a 1-2-3 ninth.

"I wish I'd have pitched a little better last night and we took two out of three, but it was really special to get to see some of those guys and wish them luck going down the stretch because we're kind of in the same thing with the wild-card race," Hosmer said.

"They've been there, done that. We've got some players on our side that have been there and done that, too, so it should be fun for both teams."

Whit Merrifield homered, his 15th, to lead off the Kansas City first. It was Merrifield's third career leadoff homer.

Brandon Moss hit his 17th home run to lead off the second. Moss hit German Marquez's first pitch out to right. But that was it for the Royals' scoring. Marquez is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA in four career interleague starts.

Jake Junis gave up a single to Parra and a double down the right-field line to Carlos Gonzalez on a 2-2 pitch to start the Rockies' sixth. After Valaika popped up to shortstop Alcides Escobar, manager Ned Yost summoned left-hander Scott Alexander from the bullpen to face left-handed hitting Raimel Tapia.

Tapia drilled a RBI single to left, scoring Parra and moving Gonzalez to third. On Alexander's next pitch, Trevor Story grounded into a double play to end the inning.

Junis gave up one run on seven hits, walked one and struck out seven, matching his career best, in 5 1/3 innings.

"I was commanding the slider to both sides of the plate, early and late in the count," Junis said.

Junis had a moment of truth in the fifth inning when No. 9 hitter Tony Wolters walked and Charlie Blackmon singled with one out. Junis struck out DJ LeMahieu and retired Nolan Arenado, who had singled in his first two at-bats, on a fielder's choice grounder to third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert.

"Junis was very impressive," Royals manager Ned Yost said.

NOTES: Royals 3B Mike Moustakas was held out of the lineup with a tender knee. He was used as a pinch hitter in the ninth and flied out to Charlie Blackmon in center. Manager Ned Yost said it is not serious and Moustakas would play Friday. Cheslor Cuthbert replaced him at third. ... The Rockies will continue this two-city trip with three games in Atlanta. Braves RHP Julio Teheran and Colorado RHP Chad Bettis are the Friday probables. ... Kansas City is 35-30 at Kauffman Stadium. ... The Royals will play a weekend series at Cleveland, which leads the American League Central. Kansas City LHP Jason Vargas and Indians LHP Ryan Merritt are the Friday starters.

Hosmer blast in 9th lifts Royals over Rockies

(TSX / STATS) -- KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Eric Hosmer got all of a slider up in the zone, and that pushed the Kansas City Royals up and over the Colorado Rockies.

Hosmer's three-run walk-off homer with two outs in the ninth inning gave Kansas City a 6-4 victory over Colorado on Wednesday night.

Hosmer's blast with Alex Gordon and Melky Cabrera aboard came off former Royals closer Greg Holland (2-5). The first baseman ripped a 1-1 high slider out to right.

"Hopefully this can be the swing for us that we can take into September and into the playoffs," Hosmer said.

It was Hosmer's first career walk-off home run.

"Knocked that off (the bucket list)," Hosmer said with a laugh. "The grand slam, it only took me about seven years, so it's all good. It felt good, though. Especially at a time like this where we're in the middle of the race and we need wins any way we can get them. So that was huge."

Holland has a 21.60 ERA in his past six appearances, taking four losses and blowing three save chances.

"It's all predicated on throwing good pitches at this level, and I didn't do that," Holland said.

Due in part to an ineffective Holland, the Rockies have lost four in a row for the first time since June, and they have dropped 23 of their past 29 road games.

"I think some pitches are up in the zone that are hurting him," Rockies manager Bud Black said of Holland. "The pitch today to Hosmer was up. He's one of the best hitters in the American League. He probably knew Greg a little bit, just how he throws. Just elevated the slider and he got it."

In the ninth, Gordon drew a leadoff walk. After a pair of lineouts, Cabrera singled Gordon to second, setting up Hosmer's winning at-bat.

Brandon Maurer (3-5) worked a scoreless ninth to pick up the victory.

Royals second baseman Whit Merrifield went 4-for-5, matching his career-high in hits. Hosmer added three hits.

"Especially late in the year, this is a big win for us," Merrifield said. "We understood the magnitude at this point of the year what this one meant. To come back like that against an All-Star closer, it's a big win for us."

Charlie Blackmon and DJ LeMahieu combined for six of the Rockies' nine hits.

Neither starting pitcher was scintillating in the early going.

Ian Kennedy gave up a two-out, first-inning home run to Nolan Arenado, the third baseman's 29th of the season. Arenado smacked a 2-0 Kennedy pitch into the Royals' left field bullpen, giving him a major league-leading 108 RBIs.

Gerardo Parra doubled after the home run, but Kennedy struck out Mark Reynolds to end the inning.

In the Rockies' second, center fielder Lorenzo Cain chased down Carlos Gonzalez and Trevor Story fly balls at the wall.

Blackmon led off the Colorado third with his 30th home run, this one landing in the Rockies' bullpen in right.

Colorado right-hander Antonio Senzatela gave up six singles to the first 10 batters he faced. He avoided giving up a run in the first when Lorenzo Cain grounded into a double play.

The Royals scored a run in the second on three singles. Merrifield, who had three hits in his first three-at bats, drove home Mike Moustakas with a two-out infield single.

Story, Blackmon and LeMahieu opened the Rockies' fifth with singles. After Kennedy struck out the dangerous Arenado, Parra's sacrifice fly to left fielder Alex Gordon scored Story.

After Kennedy walked Reynolds, he was replaced by Ryan Buchter. Kennedy, who is winless in 16 straight home starts, left allowing three runs, seven hits and three walks over 4 2/3 innings. He struck out six and threw 95 pitches. He has failed to make it out of the fifth inning in three of his five August starts.

Senzatela gave up two runs on nine hits in five innings.

NOTES: Rockies UT Ian Desmond is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Thursday with Triple-A Albuquerque. He is on the disabled list with a right calf strain. ... Colorado LHP Tyler Anderson threw a three inning simulated game. He is on the 60-day DL with left inflammation. ... Royals RHP Kelvin Herrera probably will not be placed on the DL after exiting the Tuesday game with tightness in his forearm. It is not anticipated he will miss much time. ... Rockies RHP German Marquez (10-5, 4.24 ERA) and Royals RHP Jake Junis (5-2, 4.99) are the probables for the series finale on Thursday.

Duffy, Royals shut down Rockies

(TSX / STATS) -- KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Royals went from a one-hitter to clinging to a one-run lead with the bases loaded in the ninth and closer Kelvin Herrera exiting with an injury.

Danny Duffy did not allow a hit until there were two outs in the sixth inning, Scott Alexander closed out the ninth and the Royals escaped with a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night.

Nolan Arenado's two-run homer off Duffy with DJ LeMahieu, who had walked, aboard spoiled the no-hit bid.

"I knew he was going to start me off with a couple of off-speed pitches and then I was ready for something hard late, and I got it," Arenado said.

Mike Minor, Peter Moylan, Herrera and Alexander finished the victory.

Herrera left with two outs and the bases loaded in the ninth with tightness in his right forearm.

"They're checking him now to determine exactly what it is and the extent of it," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "I don't really know much more than that."

Alexander replaced Herrera, inheriting a 2-0 count, and was credited with his first major league save when Pat Valaika grounded into a fielder's choice.

"The story of the game was what Scott Alexander did," Duffy said. "That took some kind of guts. He did his thing. He deserves to be there. He's a stud."

Alexander, a rookie left-hander, has 21 saves in the minors, 14 of them in 2015 with Double-A Northwest Arkansas.

"Just trying to throw strikes," Alexander said of the tough situation he was placed in the ninth. "I want to keep my sinker going and hopefully get a ground ball."

He got it and the save.

"That's a tough spot to put somebody in, a 2-0 count, bases loaded, tying run at third, winning run at second," Royals manager Ned Yost said.

Duffy (8-8) was pulled after six innings and 88 pitches, 60 for strikes. He walked three and struck out seven.

Jon Gray (5-3) gave up three runs (two earned), six hits and a walk in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out six.

"I didn't throw a lot of first-pitch fastballs," Gray said. "We mixed a lot of back-door curveballs and sliders to start off the lefties and we even went first-pitch slider, curveball on some righties. So, we had it mixed pretty well."

The Royals scored an unearned run in the first inning.

Whit Merrifield led off with a single to right and swiped second base. He advanced to third on Melky Cabrera's groundout and scored on a two-out passed ball charged to Jonathan Lucroy with Eric Hosmer at the plate.

The Royals hiked their advantage to 3-0 in the fourth.

Cabrera started it with a one-out triple into the right-field corner and scored on Hosmer's infield single. Shortstop Trevor Story threw home on Hosmer's slow roller, but Cabrera slid in ahead of the tag.

Salvador Perez, in his first game back after being on the disabled list, drilled a first-pitch double to the right-center gap, scoring Hosmer from first.

"They didn't hit the ball hard off Jon," Rockies manager Buddy Black said. "Jon hung in there, pitched into the seventh inning, which we like to see. We want to see Jon continue to grow as a pitcher and give us those types of outings where he's giving us pitches in the seventh and hopefully in the future he's throwing pitches in the eighth.

"But, three runs, on most nights, is good enough to give us a chance to win, which we had a chance to win tonight."

Duffy walked Arenado with two outs in the first, Story with two outs in the fifth and LeMahieu with two outs in the sixth. Arenado followed with his 28th homer of the season.

NOTES: The Royals activated C Salvador Perez, who had a right intercostal strain, from the disabled list. They optioned C Cam Gallagher to Triple-A Omaha. ... The Rockies recalled C Tony Wolters and OF Raimel Tapia from Triple-A Albuquerque. They placed C Ryan Hanigan on the 10-day DL with a left groin strain and optioned OF Mike Tauchman to Albuquerque. ... Rockies LF Gerardo Parra was scratched with a bruised right thigh, but walked as a pinch hitter in the ninth. ... Rockies RHP Antonio Senzatela (10-4, 4.56 ERA) and Royals RHP Ian Kennedy (4-9, 5.06) are the Wednesday probables.

Rockies blast three homers in win over Brewers

(TSX / STATS) -- DENVER -- The Colorado Rockies' history against Milwaukee starter Matt Garza wasn't recent, but it was robust.

Picking up where they left off, the Rockies pounded Garza on Friday night and beat the Brewers 8-4.

Garza, who last faced the Rockies on June 21, 2015, gave up three homers among the nine hits he allowed and eight runs (seven earned) in 4 1/3 innings.

Charlie Blackmon hit his sixth leadoff homer and the 28th of his career. Gerardo Parra hit his 10th homer in the fifth, and two batters later Carlos Gonzalez hit a two-run homer that gave the Rockies an 8-2 lead and finished Garza's outing. He has failed to pitch six innings in six straight starts.

Garza (6-7) is 2-6 with a 6.90 ERA in eight starts against the Rockies and is 0-4 with a 10.02 ERA in four starts at Coors Field.

"We have a right-hander that we have success (against) in the past," Gonzalez said. "So we want to jump ahead and try to score some runs and give him a rough night. That's exactly what we thought about before the game and then we did it in the game. So it's always good to execute and to get the job done and to win the game."

The win was the fourth in 11 games for the Rockies, who moved one game ahead of Arizona in the National League wild-card race.

The Brewers, whose four-game winning streak ended, fell into fourth place -- 4 1/2 games behind Arizona in the chase for second wild-card spot.

Rockies starter German Marquez (10-5) gave up a career-high three home runs but all came with the bases empty.

After giving up single runs in the third and fourth, Marquez yielded back-to-back homers in the sixth to Keon Broxton and Orlando Arica, both long drives over the fence in center.

Those homers trimmed Colorado's lead to 8-4 and ended Marquez's start after 5 2/3 innings. He gave up seven hits and four runs with one walk and six strikeouts and surrendered a career-high three home runs.

"What was important today is our starting pitcher did a nice job," Rockies manager Bud Black said. "Kept us right there and when we took the lead, he kept us there. The bullpen did a nice job."

Mike Dunn, Jake McGee, Pat Neshek and closer Greg Holland -- Colorado's most reliable late-game relievers -- combined to hold the Brewers scoreless for the final 3 1/3 innings. Holland, who had gone three days without pitching, finished in a non-save situation.

"We like those guys," Black said. "We like their experience. Look at their track record. They've done this over time. So for us to get where we want to be, we have to pitch well. And they pitched well tonight."

Parra extended the Rockies' lead to 6-2 when he led off the fifth with just his second homer since July 17. Garza then struck out Mark Reynolds, who reached first base on a wild pitch thrown on the third strike, and Gonzalez followed with an opposite-field two-run homer that increased the lead to 8-2 and ended Garza's outing.

"I didn't do a great job of keeping it down," Garza said. "(Coors Field) plays small on nice days like this. You pay when you're here, and they get the ball up. That's all it is. It's just missed spots and they took advantage of it."

Brewers third baseman Travis Shaw made a sprawling stop of Trevor Story's hard grounder in the fourth, tried for a forceout but threw wide of second base. Gonzalez, who was on second, continued home to make it 5-2.

Nolan Arenado tripled home two runs in the third. He scored to give the Rockies a 4-2 lead when Parra followed with a single, lining a ball that went off the glove of leaping shortstop Arcia.

Marquez began the inning by hustling a single into a double before Blackmon singled. Both runners scored on Arenado's career-high seventh triple.

Marquez went sliding into second base on his double, giving an anxious moment to Black and pitching coach Steve Foster. Asked about his slide, Marquez smiled and said, "I thought it was terrible, man."

Marquez gave up Domingo Santana's 20th homer in the second, which tied the game at 1. He yielded a run in the third that put Milwaukee ahead 2-1 when Eric Thames led off with a triple and Neil Walker followed with a single. That was the only Brewers' hit in five at-bats with a runner in scoring position against Marquez.

"The thing is he's only 22," Rockies catcher Jonathan Lucroy said. "Good stuff, good arm. And I just think he's going to get better as he learns how to pitch, as he learns how to manage innings, learns how to read swings as he gets more experience. You can't teach 98 (mph) sinkers. And he's very competive, too, and he's very intelligent.

"He knows what he's doing out there, and I think this kid's got a bright future."

NOTES: Rockies RHP Jeff Hoffman and INF Ryan McMahon were optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque and RHP Scott Oberg and OF Mike Tauchman were recalled. ... Rockies RHP Antonio Senzatela will take Hoffman's place in the rotation. ... Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado was in the lineup. He left in the seventh inning Thursday with a bone bruise on his left hand where he was hit with a hard grounder. ... Brewers C Stephen Vogt (left knee sprain) was reinstated and C Andrew Susac (right trapezius strain) was placed on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to Aug. 15. ... The Brewers hit back-to-back homers for the sixth time this season and first time since July 25 at Washington.

Gonzalez seeks strong finish as Rockies host Braves

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(TSX / STATS) -- DENVER -- Carlos Gonzalez is hitting better lately.

The Colorado Rockies right fielder was mired in a deep slump for so long, though, his chances of ending the season with a robust bottom line resembling those of past seasons are slim.

Instead, Gonzalez is aiming "to just finish strong" and help the Rockies reach the postseason for the first time since 2009, not concerning himself where his own stats end up.

Heading into the series finale with the Atlanta Braves on Thursday, Gonzalez is hitting .236 with seven home runs and 37 RBIs in 100 games. He has a .191 average with runners in scoring position.

Gonzalez, however, has hit safely in nine of his past 11 games, going 13-for-42 (.310) with four doubles and eight RBIs. He feels he is dictating his at-bats.

"It's different when you don't go to the plate trying to see what happens," Gonzalez said. "Right now, I feel in control. Everyone is going to have bad at-bats and bad games. I think what's important is just to stay positive and feel good about yourself that you're going to get the job done.

"Most of the time when I get out it's because I got myself out. I chased bad pitches. But I feel like I can control my at-bats, and whenever they give me a good pitch, I'm not missing those as much."

The Braves need a win Thursday to split the four-game series.

Jeff Hoffman (6-4, 5.15 ERA) will start for the Rockies, while Lucas Sims (0-3, 5.71) gets the ball for the Braves. Both were first-round picks: Hoffman taken ninth overall by Toronto in 2014 and Sims 21st overall by Atlanta in 2012. Neither has faced his Thursday opponent.

Sims, 23, made his major league debut Aug. 1 and will be making his fourth career start after losing his first three. His latest outing was Saturday at St. Louis, where Sims, in his first road start, gave up 10 hits and five runs (four earned) in 5 1/3 innings during a 6-5 defeat.

Hoffman lost his last start 4-3 at Miami on Saturday when he allowed seven hits and four runs in five innings. Since he last won July 16, Hoffman is 0-3 with a 7.20 ERA in five starts.

Hoffman will hope to slow Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson, who has hit safely five consecutive games, going 6-for-18. Swanson went 1-for-3 with a double in Atlanta's 17-2 loss Wednesday and was robbed of a hit when Rockies shortstop Trevor Story made a diving catch of a liner in the fifth.

Swanson began the season with the Braves but was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on July 26 when he was hitting .213. That move came after a game at Arizona. The Diamondbacks took Swanson, 23, first overall in the 2015 draft but traded him to the Braves in December of that year in an ill-fated deal for Arizona that sent pitcher Shelby Miller to the desert.

The Braves recalled Swanson on Aug. 9, when Johan Camargo, who took over at shortstop, sustained a right knee bone bruise.

Recalling the day Swanson was demoted to the minors, Braves hitting coach Kevin Seitzer said, "This is what I told him, 'You need to go down and get confidence again. You need to be in a more relaxed setting to where you can just go play, get your swagger back.' Because this kid knows he can hit, knows he can play, but if you're not walking up there with a swagger to yourself, it's an uphill battle."

Seitzer said Swanson was missing fastballs, getting pitches to hit and fouling them off and having nothing to show for it when he did barrel a ball.

"There comes a point, you start trying harder," Seitzer said. "Then the pressing comes. He was battling. He's a very tough kid. He's very grounded mentally, emotionally. There weren't snaps or pouting. He came with a good attitude every day.

"Since he's been back, he's been barreling a lot of balls and not getting much to show for it. But he's having good at-bats. We just need to keep that rolling."

Rockies amass 9 extra-base hits, crush Braves 17-2

(TSX / STATS) -- DENVER -- The timing couldn't have been better for the Colorado Rockies as they emphatically halted their offensive woes Wednesday night by piling on the Atlanta Braves for their most lopsided victory of the season.

Colorado scored in each of the first five innings, packing 14 runs into that span en route to a 17-2 win. The 15-run margin was the Rockies' biggest since they walloped Houston 19-3 at Coors Field on Sept. 25, 2011.

Trevor Story hit two home runs, giving him 18 for the season, and had a career-high six RBIs while going 3-for-4. It was Story's first multi-homer game of the season after he savored four such performances last year as a rookie.

"It seemed like I hadn't done that in forever," Story said.

The Rockies pivoted sharply off their recent past. Colorado had gone 2-6 while scoring no more than three runs in eight consecutive games, the second-longest such streak in franchise history and one shy of the record. In those eight games, the Rockies went 9-for-62 (.145) with runners in scoring position.

They matched that eight-game total Wednesday, going 9-for-19 with runners in scoring position while erupting for 18 hits, including nine for extra bases. The nine hits with runners in scoring position were a season high.

"We know what kind of offense we have," said Mark Reynolds, who belted his 25th homer and had three hits and four RBIs. "Every team in baseball goes through a little lull where they can't seem to get the big hit or string hits together, and we kind of had that (last week) in Cleveland and Miami and the first two games here (against Atlanta). Today was huge, I think, for everyone on the team, confidence-wise."

DJ LeMahieu had his fifth four-hit game of the season and the ninth of his career while scoring four runs. Nolan Arenado drove in a pair, giving him a major-league-most 103 RBIs.

Gerardo Parra had three hits and four RBIs. With four or more RBIs apiece, Parra, Reynolds and Story combined to equal a franchise record. The only other time the Rockies had three players with at least four RBIs was Aug. 11, 1998, when Vinny Castilla, Mike Lansing and Todd Helton did it at Montreal.

The Rockies pounded the San Diego Padres 18-4 on July 19, which had been their biggest margin of victory this season before the Wednesday onslaught that included three three-run innings and a five-run outburst.

The beneficiary of the offensive surge was Colorado starter Jon Gray (5-2). The right-hander allowed five hits and two runs in six innings with two walks and six strikeouts. He retired the first nine batters and held the Braves scoreless for the first five innings as he improved to 4-0 with a 3.00 ERA in five starts at Coors Field this season.

"I'm comfortable here," Gray said. "It's more of a pride thing. I take a lot of pride in pitching here and being better than the other guy."

The 17 runs allowed were a season high for the Braves, who twice surrendered 16 this year. It was the most runs they have yielded since they allowed 20 against the New York Yankees on Aug. 30, 2015.

Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz (10-8) took the brunt of the Rockies' punishment, giving up a career-high-tying eight runs and nine hits in 3 1/3 innings. Foltynewicz, who lasted 2 2/3 innings in his previous start, needed 97 pitches to get the 10 outs Wednesday.

"It was just one of those times where I got ahead of guys and I just couldn't finish," Foltynewicz said. "I don't know what it was. Really things just weren't working out for me, and I was just leaving balls over the middle of the plate with two strikes, and then bloop hits and gappers and walking people doesn't help either."

Before the game, Rockies manager Bud Black lamented: "We're seeing good at-bats inning to inning, but we're not stringing the good at-bats in one inning."

Following the rout, Black referenced that critique after the offense zoomed into high gear.

"We talked about not bunching hits together in an inning," he said. "We've hit some homers, but they've been solos. Today we saw the opposite of what we've seen the last eight or nine days. Really bunched hits together, lot of traffic, lot of big hits."

NOTES: The start of the game was delayed 16 minutes by rain. ... LF Matt Kemp (right hamstring strain) ran rigorously for the second time this week, but the Braves' training staff wants him to do it again Friday before he might be activated Saturday. ... Colorado's streak of 11 wins over the Braves at Coors Field that ended Tuesday was its longest home winning streak against any opponent. ... Rockies LHP Tyler Anderson, who underwent left knee surgery July 3, will throw about 35 pitches in his second bullpen session Thursday. ... The Rockies traded LHP Sam Moll to Oakland for a player to be named or cash considerations. Moll had spent the season at Triple-A Albuquerque.

Rockies' Gray feels right at home versus Braves

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(TSX / STATS) -- DENVER -- Convinced that his slider finally is the vaunted weapon it was last season, the Colorado Rockies' Jon Gray will start Wednesday against the Atlanta Braves, seeking to remain unbeaten at Coors Field this year.

Gray (4-2, 4.92 ERA) will be opposed by Mike Foltynewicz (10-7, 4.29).

Gray is 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA in four home starts this season. He is 10-3 with a 4.70 ERA in 23 career starts at Coors Field, where he was initially uncomfortable in the final two months of 2015 when he came to the majors but is now very much at ease.

"It's something I take pride in now," the right-hander said of succeeding at Coors Field. "I know that I can do it. I know I can outpitch the other guy, no matter who it is, here."

Gray is 1-0 with an 0.64 ERA against the Braves in two career starts, both last year.

In his past four starts, Gray is 1-1 with a 3.28 ERA with four walks and 22 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings. He was not involved in the decision Friday at Miami, where he gave up three runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings with two walks and four strikeouts in Colorado's 6-3 loss.

In his side session after that outing, Gray worked on his slider, which he said hasn't broken well all year, though he anticipates it will Wednesday.

"I think sometimes I try to throw it like a curveball, and I shouldn't throw a slider like a curveball, because it's a power pitch," Gray said. "You got to make it look like a fastball, and it's something I really wanted it to do last year.

"I would think about that. 'All right, I'm going to try to make this guy think it's a fastball, no matter what. And I'm going to get the swing.' That's something I got back to after my last side session."

Gray, 25, missed 2 1/2 months with a stress fracture in his left foot. He said the sharpness of his slider was affected by some bad habits he developed when he landed on that foot while throwing his slider in a walking boot. Gray said he has had more of a finesse mentality throwing his slider this year, something he is ready to ditch.

"I got away from what the slider's all about," he said. "I was so excited the last couple days because of it. It's changed my attitude a little bit, so I'm feeling really good going into this game."

Foltynewicz, 25, is 0-2 with a 3.20 ERA in five games (three starts) against the Rockies and 0-1 with a 3.70 ERA in three games (one start) at Coors Field.

In his latest start, Friday at St. Louis, Foltynewicz gave up six runs and seven hits in 2 2/3 innings, his second-shortest outing of the season. He threw 48 of 83 pitches for strikes while walking four and striking out one in an 8-5 defeat.

However, while winning his Aug. 5 start against Miami, Foltynewicz gave up four hits and one run in 6 1/3 innings with no walks and 11 strikeouts. The Braves posted a 7-2 victory.

"He's come a long ways from a year ago," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "Stuff is really good. As much as commanding his stuff, he's commanding himself a lot better now and how he competes and not letting little things (affect him) and not making such a big deal of it.

"He's come a long way. He's not there yet. It is a process. But he's made a lot of strides in maturing, and the ceiling that we all thought about him and the stuff, you're seeing that now. It's just a matter of him staying healthy and going out there every fifth day, and then all that'll take care of itself, I think."

Rare Arenado error helps Braves beat Rockies

(TSX / STATS) -- DENVER -- The play seemed almost automatic, a one-hopper in the eighth inning Tuesday night to Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado, known for making jaw-dropping plays almost nightly.

However, the Atlanta Braves scored an unearned run on Arenado's low throw with two outs and beat the Rockies 4-3 to end an 11-game losing streak at Coors Field.

The Rockies' continued offensive malaise put Colorado in a position where Arenado's stunning error was costly.

"He never makes errors at third base," said Atlanta's Brandon Phillips, who scored the winning run. "To make an error like that shows you that he's human. And one thing it just shows is that you can win a game any kind of way."

Phillips doubled with one out in the eighth against Pat Neshek (3-3). Freddie Freeman followed with an opposite-field drive that Gerardo Parra hauled down in the left field corner for the second out.

Tyler Flowers then hit a routine grounder to third, but Arenado, winner of four consecutive Gold Gloves, made a low throw for his fifth error of the season. First baseman Mark Reynolds tried to make a backhanded pickup but was unable to hold the ball, and Phillips scampered home ahead of Reynolds' throw.

"It's unacceptable," Arenado said. "I've got to make that play, at the end of the day. I feel like I do for the most part. I didn't this time, and we lost. I short-armed it, I didn't get enough on the throw. Just a bad throw."

Phillips said he rounded third right when Arenado threw the ball, watched third base coach Ron Washington and was "just trying to keep my feet moving just in case anything happened. You knew it was a routine play for him, but once I saw the ball in the dirt, I just kept running."

Sam Freeman (2-0) worked the seventh, benefiting greatly when Freeman started a nifty 3-6-3 double play on Charlie Blackmon's grounder after pinch hitter Pat Valaika began the inning with a single.

Aroldys Vizcaino hit 100 mph with his fastball as he worked the ninth to earn his seventh save in nine opportunities.

Nick Markakis tied the game at 3 for the Braves when he hit his seventh home run, a shot to right-center with two outs in the sixth. That was the final inning for Rockies starter Kyle Freeland, who allowed four hits and three runs with two fateful walks and five strikeouts.

Both walks came in the second before No. 8 hitter Dansby Swanson, who was batting .210, turned on a 93.6 mph fastball and lined a two-run double into the left field corner, putting the Braves ahead 2-1.

Asked if he was looking for a fastball, Swanson smiled and said: "I can't give you all my secrets. See it and hit it, baby. Sometimes it works out for you, and sometimes it doesn't. The simplistic way of looking at things is sometimes the best way to go."

Atlanta starter Sean Newcomb also worked six innings, giving up three runs on five hits and four walks with eight strikeouts. Solo homers by Arenado in the first, Reynolds in the fourth and Trevor Story in the fifth accounted for Colorado's runs against Newcomb, a 23-year-old rookie making his 12th major league start and his Coors Field debut.

"You sort of expect it coming here," Newcomb said of the home runs. "You know deep fly balls kind of turn into home runs. But I just put those behind me and kept attacking."

Story put the Rockies ahead 3-2 when he led off the fifth with his 16th homer. It was the slumping Story's first extra-base hit since hitting his 15th homer July 29. Entering Tuesday, Story had gone 5-for-40 (.125) with 19 strikeouts since.

With one out in the inning, Blackmon walked and dashed to third on DJ LeMahieu's single. Newcomb retired Arenado on a pop up but walked Reynolds on four pitches to load the bases before getting Gerardo Parra to fly to left.

The Rockies have scored three runs in six straight games and have lost six of their past eight contests. They are 9-for-62 (.145) with runners in scoring position in that span, including 0-for-3 in such situations Tuesday.

"Man on first and second, we're not getting guys over. Man on third, we're not getting them in," Arenado said. "Today I had a man on third, and I popped up. It's unacceptable. You can't have that in games that you need runs."

The Rockies remained tied with Arizona for the two National League wild-card spots, five games ahead of St. Louis and Milwaukee, after a loss that was memorable because it resulted from Arenado's error.

"It's rare," Rockies manager Bud Black said. "You don't see it. You are not going to see it for a long time. It is part of this game."

NOTES: Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (left groin strain) was reinstated from the disabled list, and LHP Zac Rosscup was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque. ... Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado was back in the lineup. He sustained a left wrist contusion when hit with a pitch Sunday, and he pinch-hit Monday. ... Rockies LHP Tyler Anderson threw his first bullpen session from 60 feet, 6 inches since he underwent left knee surgery July 3. ... Braves CF Lane Adams made his first start in his 45th game this season. He went 1-for-3. ... Braves CF Ender Inciarte, who fouled a ball off his right foot Monday, was given a rest day. He had started all but two of Atlanta's previous 115 games. ... Braves 2B Ozzie Albies led off for the first time after batting seventh or eighth in his first 12 major league games. He went 0-for-4

Bettis returns from cancer battle, helps Rockies blank Braves

(TSX / STATS) -- DENVER -- Chad Bettis made a dazzling return Monday night, pitching seven scoreless innings for the Colorado Rockies in his 2017 debut and his comeback from cancer.

Bettis was not involved in the decision, but his storybook start paved the way to Colorado's 3-0 win over the Atlanta Braves.

The Rockies scored their runs in the eighth, the first on Gerardo Parra's RBI single and the final two on Carlos Gonzalez's single.

Bettis, 28, was diagnosed with testicular cancer and underwent surgery in late November. In March, Bettis learned the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes, forcing him to undergo nine weeks of chemotherapy. On Monday, he pitched in the big leagues for the first time since Sept. 30.

"There wasn't a doubt it would happen for me," Bettis said of his return to the Rockies. "The question was when it was going to be and what was it going to look like. Would I be in the bullpen or would I be able to start?"

Bettis allowed six hits with no walks and two strikeouts and got 13 outs on ground balls. He threw 89 pitches, including 62 strikes, and held the Braves hitless in seven at-bats with runners in scoring position.

The final two such at-bats wrapped up Bettis' outing. After Kurt Suzuki led off the seventh with a double and was sacrificed to third, Bettis got Ozzie Albies and Dansby Swanson to fly out. He then received a standing ovation as he walked to the Rockies' dugout.

"I don't know how to explain it," Bettis said. "You try to get your mind clear because of the task at hand, and then to be hit with that emotion, it was unbelievable. Walking in it was deep breaths."

The Rockies' game-winning rally began when Charlie Blackmon led off the eighth against former Rockies reliever Rex Brothers (2-3) with his major-league-leading 14th triple. The hit came with the count 1-2 and on Brothers' fifth pitch of the at-bat.

"I had a count in my favor and didn't execute, simple as that," Brothers said. "At this level, you see what happened. It's a matter of execution. I threw a slider belt-high, about as middle-middle as you can get."

After DJ LeMahieu was intentionally walked, Parra grounded a ball that drawn-in shortstop Swanson was unable to backhand on a short hop, and Blackmon scored.

Jason Motte relieved Brothers and walked Mark Reynolds to load the bases for Gonzalez. He singled home two runs on Motte's 0-2 pitch.

Mike Dunn (5-1) worked the eighth, and Greg Holland earned his 35th save in 38 chances. With runners on first and second, Holland got Albies to hit a soft liner to end the game.

Braves starter Julio Teheran, who took the mound with an 0-4 record and a 7.00 ERA in his past five games, gave up four singles in seven innings with three walks and eight strikeouts. He threw a season-high-tying 110 pitches, including 74 strikes, and extended his scoreless streak against the Rockies to 18 innings. In four starts at Coors Field, Teheran has not allowed a home run in 24 1/3 innings.

With runners on first and second and no outs in the seventh, Teheran struck out Pat Valaika, retired pinch hitter Nolan Arenado, who didn't start because of a left wrist contusion, on a foul pop out and struck out pinch hitter Alexi Amarista.

"I've been working to try and get back on track," Teheran said, "and today I feel like I had my best, like the old Julio Teheran that we're used to seeing."

In addition to the dicey seventh, Bettis gave up a one-out double to Nick Markakis in the fourth but stranded him at third when second baseman LeMahieu made a sliding stop on Danny Santana's grounder and threw him out. With one out in the fifth, Swanson doubled, but Bettis retired the next two batters.

"He was rough," Braves manager Brian Snitker said of Bettis. "There's a reason he won 14 games last year. His stuff was cutting and had good movement. I'm glad he's back healthy and pitching, wish we could've beat him."

Brothers played collegiate summer baseball with Bettis before both pitchers began their professional careers in the Rockies' organization -- Bettis in 2010 and Brothers the following year. His misfire to Blackmon notwithstanding, Brothers was happy to witness Bettis' return.

"He's been a great friend, a true friend, and he's first class," Brothers said. "It really did me a lot to see him and see what he's overcome. He's really an inspiration to a lot of people."

NOTES: Before the game and in the middle of the seventh inning, the Rockies paid tribute on their video board to Don Baylor, who managed the team in its first six seasons and died Aug. 8 at the age of 68. ... Rockies RHP Chad Bettis was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque to start against the Braves, and RHP Carlos Estevez was optioned to Albuquerque. ... Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado (bruised left wrist) pinch hit in the seventh and fouled out. He was hit in the wrist with a pitch Sunday but hit off a tee and took dry swings before Monday's game to test his wrist. ... Braves OF Matt Kemp (right hamstring) did sprints and running exercises before the game and is scheduled to do so again Wednesday and play Friday, if all goes well. ... Because of the spacious left field at Coors Field, Danny Santana and Lane Adams will man the position for San Diego in this series, rather than Matt Adams, a first baseman by trade, who has been playing left field in Kemp's absence.

Stanton hits 42nd HR as Marlins defeat Rockies

(TSX / STATS) -- MIAMI -- It was a lost weekend for the seemingly playoff-bound Colorado Rockies, and Miami Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton was a big reason why.

Stanton hit his 42nd homer of the season, tying a franchise record set by Gary Sheffield in 1996 and leading Miami to a 5-3 victory over Colorado on Sunday afternoon at Marlins Park.

"I really enjoyed watching (Sheffield) play as a kid - it's good company to be in," Stanton said. "It's not something I will fully appreciate until the year is over. But it's a cool thing to have under my belt, and I have time to get more."

The Marlins (56-60) swept the series from Colorado (65-52). It was Miami's first three-game sweep since July 7-9 at the San Francisco Giants, and its first home sweep since beating the Philadelphia Phillies in May.

Colorado still has a four-game lead in the battle for one of two NL wild-card spots, but the Rockies have lost five of their past six games.

To make matters worse for Colorado, third baseman Nolan Arenado, who leads the majors in RBIs, was hit on the left hand by a pitch from Marlins starter Vance Worley. Arenado left the game immediately, but X-rays were negative.

"It hurt real bad," Arenado said. "It got real tight. That was my concern -- how tight it was getting. Luckily, it's not broken, but it's swollen pretty good. It's hard to move my pinkie.

"I've gotten hit in the hand before, but it didn't feel like this. It was a two-seam fastball, up and in. I tried to get out of the way, but it hit me. Whenever you get hit in the hand, it scares you."

Arenado, a four-time Gold Glove winner and a three-time All-Star, said he was told by team doctors that a stint on the disabled list is not likely.

"It will take some time," Arenado said, "hopefully (just) a couple days."

Either way, it was a frustrating series for Arenado, who was ejected from Saturday's game after he was called out on a check swing.

Stanton, who leads the majors in homers, had a much better weekend. He became the sixth-fastest player to reach 250 homers, dating to 1913. Stanton also has hit nine homers in the past 10 games and 21 in the past 33.

"Big G (Stanton) is impressive," said Marlins manager Don Mattingly, a great hitter in his day.

Besides Stanton, the key for Miami on Sunday was the bullpen. Starter Vance Worley lasted just four-plus innings and got a no-decision. But reliever Javy Guerra (1-0) got out of a two-on, two-out jam created by Worley in the fifth. Guerra pitched two hitless and scoreless innings, earning his first major-league win since 2014.

Overall, Miami's bullpen pitched five scoreless innings. That includes Odrisamer Despaigne, who pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his first major-league save.

Colorado starter German Marquez (9-5) took the loss, allowing five runs in 4 1/3 innings. His streak of six straight quality starts -- a Rockies rookie record -- was snapped. He had been 4-0 with a 2.95 ERA during that stretch.

Miami opened the scoring with two runs in the second. After J.T. Realmuto was hit by a pitch and Tomas Telis singled, the Marlins had runners on second and third with two outs.

On a 2-2 count, Worley hit an outside pitch to right field. Colorado's Carlos Gonzalez made a diving catch, but it was trapped, and his strong throw home could not prevent two runs from scoring.

Colorado took a 3-2 lead in the third. Like Miami's rally, this one was also started by a leadoff hit-by-pitch. After Charlie Blackmon was plunked and DJ LeMahieu singled, Colorado pounced.

Gerardo Parra had an RBI single, and Gonzalez hit a two-run single. Ryan McMahon nearly had an RBI groundout. But upon video replay, he was called out at first, and the Marlins took a run off the board on an inning-ending double play.

Stanton's homer, an opposite-field job to right in the bottom of the third, tied the score 3-3.

"It was a good pitch," Marquez said of his 98-mph fastball on the outside corner. "But he's a good hitter."

Miami took a 5-3 lead in the fourth on Mike Aviles' two-round double into the left-field corner, and the bullpen did the rest.

NOTES: Rockies rookie 1B Ryan McMahon, who made his first big-league start, got an eighth-inning single for his first hit. ... Marlins RF Giancarlo Stanton leads the majors with 19 go-ahead homers, which is also a franchise record. Stanton's homer on Saturday was No. 100 for him in his career at Marlins Park. ... Rockies manager Bud Black (illness) was back in the dugout after missing Saturday's game. ... The Rockies return home on Monday to face the Atlanta Braves. Colorado RHP Chad Bettis, who was diagnosed with testicular cancer in November of 2016, will make his 2017 big-league debut. ... The Marlins on Monday open a three-game series against the visiting San Francisco Giants.

Stanton's 41st homer helps Marlins beat Rockies

(TSX / STATS) -- MIAMI -- Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado, who leads the majors in RBIs, was ejected.

Miami Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton, who leads the majors in homers, went deep again.

That contrast was indicative of which team had the better fortune on Saturday night as Stanton drilled a tiebreaking, three-run shot to left to lead Miami to a 4-3 win over Colorado at Marlins Park.

Arenado, who went 0-for-4, was thrown out of the game in the seventh inning after he argued a strike-three check-swing call.

First-base umpire Pat Hoberg was the one who ejected Arenado.

"(Hoberg) told me he was instructed to do that when a guy throws his bat and looks at him," said Rockies bench coach Mike Redmond, who was filling in for manager Bud Black, who was ill. "I explained to (Hoberg) in the calmest voice I have that I felt that was wrong, and he didn't have to do that. But the damage was already done."

Black is expected to return on Sunday, when Miami (55-60) goes for the series sweep against Colorado (65-51), which has lost four of its past five games. Redmond, a former Marlins manager, will return to his role as bench coach.

Stanton, who once played for Redmond, has 41 homers, one short of the franchise single-season record set by Gary Sheffield in 1996. Stanton has 20 homers in the past 32 games.

The homer by Stanton snapped a 1-1, fourth-inning tie. Overall, Stanton went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored, falling just a triple short of a cycle.

"Fuego," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said, flexing his Spanish-language muscles to describe how hot Stanton is right now. "It seems like every day you can count on him hitting one."

Stanton, who struck out in his final at-bat, was asked if he thought about the cycle.

"After the homer, yeah," Stanton said. "Then I messed it up -- swung at everything."

Center fielder Charlie Blackmon led Colorado with four hits and two steals. He led off an inning five times and went 4-for-5, with Marlins first baseman Tyler Moore robbing him of a hit on his final at-bat in the ninth.

Still, Blackmon leads the majors in runs (105), triples (13), multi-hit games (51) and total bases (291). He also leads the National League with 159 hits.

Miami's Justin Nicolino (1-1) allowed six hits, four walks and two runs, one earned, in 5 1/3 innings. He earned his first win at Marlins Park since May 3, 2016.

Jeff Hoffman (6-4) took the loss, allowing seven hits, three walks and four runs.

"I felt a little bit out of whack," said Hoffman, who is winless in his past five appearances, including three losses. "It didn't feel like much, but it was enough to affect everything."

Both teams scored in the first inning.

Blackmon led off the game with a single, stole second, advanced to third on a flyout and scored on Mark Reynolds' RBI single.

Miami tied the score 1-1 when Stanton doubled, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Marcell Ozuna's groundout.

After Stanton's two-out homer gave Miami a 4-1 lead, Colorado got one run back. Blackmon singled and stole second base again, advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher J.T. Realmuto and scored on DJ LeMahieu's sacrifice fly.

Colorado cut its deficit to 4-3 in the eighth. Reynolds drew a five-pitch walk, advanced to third on a Jonathan Lucroy single and scored on a Carlos Gonzalez groundout. Pinch hitter Ryan McMahon, making his major league debut, flied out to the edge of the warning track in center, ending the threat.

Brad Ziegler, who escaped a two-on jam, pitched a scoreless ninth for his fourth save. He struck out Gerardo Parra, who swung at a 2-2 pitch, to end the game.

NOTES: Colorado signed 1B Ryan Howard, 37, to a minor-league contract. Howard, who twice led the majors in homers, had been out of baseball since being released by the Atlanta Braves on May 8. ... Since 2000, only two players -- David Ortiz in 2006 and Chris Davis in 2013 -- have reached 40 homers quicker than Marlins RF Giancarlo Stanton, who accomplished the feat on Friday. ... When rosters can expand to up to 40 players on Sept. 1, look for the Marlins to promote 3B Brian Anderson, who is hitting .267 with 20 homers and 72 RBIs this year between Double-A and Triple-A. ... Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado and CF Charlie Blackmon rank 1-2 in the majors in extra-base hits. In baseball history, teammates have finished 1-2 in the majors in extra-base hits just three times: Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in 1926 and 1927 and Tony Armas and Dwight Evans for the 1984 Boston Red Sox.

Blackmon's blast in 12th lifts Rockies past Indians

(TSX / STATS) -- CLEVELAND - Nothing washes away the sour taste of a crushing loss like the thrill of a rousing victory, and the Colorado Rockies experienced the latter on Wednesday afternoon at Progressive Field.

Charlie Blackmon's home run in the 12th inning lifted the Rockies to a 3-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians. The win came less than 24 hours after Cleveland hit Colorado with a four-run, ninth-inning haymaker, capped by a walk-off home run, in a 4-1 Rockies defeat Tuesday night.

"Today was tough," said Blackmon, after his game-winning homer Wednesday. "Last night was a heartbreaking loss, but I'm proud of the guys for the way we bounced back today to get the win."

Blackmon hit a 1-0 pitch from Zach McAllister (1-2) over the right-field wall for his 27th home run.

"That was a great swing by Charlie," said Colorado manager Bud Black.

"I thought he was going to throw me a fastball, and I just tried to whack it," Blackmon said.

Rockies reliever Carlos Estevez (5-0) pitched two scoreless innings to get the win. With closer Greg Holland, Pat Neshek and Mike Dunn not available, Tyler Chatwood, normally a starter, pitched the bottom of the 12th inning to pick up his second career save.

"Our guys have been good all year at flipping the page," Black said. "As disappointing as last night was, to win today was just as gratifying, or more."

Cleveland took a 2-1 lead into the ninth, and closer Cody Allen struck out Gerardo Parra to lead off the inning. But Carlos Gonzalez singled and scored on a double by Jonathan Lucroy to tie the game at 2. It was the fourth blown save of the year for Allen, who has 19 saves.

Trevor Bauer started for Cleveland and pitched seven strong innings, giving up one run on seven hits while striking out nine without issuing a walk.

Colorado starter Antonio Senzatela pitched five innings, giving up two runs on five hits, with five strikeouts and three walks.

The only run allowed by Bauer came in the third inning when Rockies No. 9 hitter Alexi Amarista hit an 0-2 pitch over the center-field wall for his third home run, giving Colorado a 1-0 lead.

Cleveland countered in the bottom of the third with its only two runs of the game. Abraham Almonte led off with a double to center field off Senzatela. A sacrifice bunt by Roberto Perez moved Almonte to second.

Senzatela retired Jason Kipnis on a pop-up for the second out. But Francisco Lindor belted the first pitch he saw over the wall in right field for his 19th home run, a two-run shot, giving the Indians a 2-1 lead.

But that was it for Cleveland offensively. Six Colorado pitchers combined to hold the Indians scoreless on four hits over the last nine innings.

"Obviously, our pen, seven innings and no runs, was spectacular," Black said.

Cleveland has struggled to find consistent offense in recent games. The Indians have been held scoreless in 31 of their last 35 innings.

"That's baseball," Francona said. "Today we had some opportunities, but couldn't square one up. We should have done more with what we had today."

Bauer settled down after Amarista's third-inning homer, retiring 10 of the next 11 batters he faced. In his last four starts, Bauer is 3-0 with a 2.00 ERA, with 28 strikeouts and five walks in 27 innings.

"That's nice, but it would be a lot nicer if we won today," Bauer said. "I'm just glad to be contributing to our chances to win."

Bauer was removed from the game after giving up a single to Blackmon to lead off the eighth inning.

Joe Smith relieved Bauer and got DJ LeMahieu to pop out to second baseman Kipnis in foul territory. Blackmon, who was running on the pitch, was unable to get back to first for a double play. Nolan Arenado then grounded out to end the inning.

Cleveland finished interleague play with the worst interleague record in the American League: 6-14. The Rockies are 8-6 in interleague play.

NOTES: Indians OF Michael Brantley was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a right ankle sprain. INF/OF Erik Gonzalez was recalled from Triple-A Columbus. ... RHP Danny Salazar, who will start for the Indians Thursday night in Tampa Bay, is 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA in three starts since coming off the disabled list. ... Before Wednesday, the Rockies hadlost back-to-back games in which they took a lead into the ninth inning, the first time that's happened to them since Aug. 21-22, 2013. Prior to Sunday, the Rockies were 59-0 going into the ninth inning with a lead. . . Since coming off the disabled list on July 7, Colorado OF Gerardo Parra leads the National League with a .407 batting average.

Don Baylor, former MVP and manager of year, dead at 68

By SCHUYLER DIXON
Associated Press

Don Baylor, the burly slugger who once held the Major League Baseball record for being hit a pitch and later guided the expansion Colorado Rockies to the playoffs for the first time as manager of the year, died Monday of cancer. He was 68.

The 1979 American League MVP died in his hometown of Austin, Texas, after a 14-year battle with multiple myeloma, Baylor’s family said in a statement released by the Angels, the franchise for which he played more than 800 games.

“Don passed from this earth with the same fierce dignity with which he played the game and lived his life,” Baylor’s wife, Rebecca, said.

Baylor played in all 162 games for the California Angels in 1979 and led the majors with career bests of 139 RBIs and 120 runs. He also had career highs in homers (36) and hits (186) for the American League West champs, who lost to Baltimore in the AL Championship Series.

When the stocky Baylor retired, he had been hit by pitches a then-record 267 times, and led the majors in that category seven times.

He was also known for speed as a younger player, including a career-high 52 steals with Oakland in 1976, and was a bruising baserunner who loved to break up double plays. He finished with 285 steals.

In his final three seasons, Baylor went to three straight World Series from 1986-88, winning the title and hitting one of his four postseason homers in Minnesota’s seven-game victory against St. Louis in 1987. He was on losing teams with Boston in ’86 and Oakland in ’88.

“Don used power and speed to earn American League MVP honors with the Angels in 1979 and contributed to three straight pennant winners in a great 19-year major league career,” Commissioner Rob Manfred said.

Baylor was the first manager for the Rockies, leading them to his only playoff appearance as a manager in the franchise’s third season in 1995. Colorado lost to Atlanta in four games in an NL Division Series.

Baylor spent six years with Colorado and two-plus seasons as manager of the Chicago Cubs, from 2000-02. His career record was 627-689. He was most recently the hitting coach for the Angels and spent nearly 50 years in pro baseball.

“Throughout stints with 14 different major league teams as a player, coach or manager, Don’s reputation as a gentleman always preceded him,” Manfred said.

Born June 28, 1949, in Austin, Baylor was a second-round pick by Baltimore in 1967 and chose baseball over a chance to be the first black football player at Texas. Two years later, the Longhorns became the last all-white team to win a national championship.

Baylor went to junior college before joining the Orioles organization, made his big league debut in 1970 and spent six years with Baltimore. After a year in the first of two stints with Oakland, Baylor played six seasons for the Angels.

Mostly a designated hitter but also an outfielder and first baseman, Baylor had at least 20 homers in three straight seasons for the New York Yankees before hitting 31 for the Red Sox in 1986. He was a career .260 hitter with 338 homers and 1,276 RBIs.

“Don’s commitment to the game and its future also inspired him to play an instrumental role in helping the MLBPA establish itself as a bona fide union,” players’ union executive director Tony Clark said.

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