Gray tosses 6 strong innings, Rockies beat Pirates 6-2

DENVER — Jon Gray tossed six strong innings in another solid outing for Colorado starters, and the Rockies beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-2 on Wednesday.

Garrett Hampson had four hits for the Rockies, who swept the three-game series and improved to 28-16 at home. Colorado is just 6-31 on the road.

A day after being no-hit by Germán Márquez for eight innings, the Pirates jumped on Gray for their first runs of the series. Adam Frazier led off the game with a triple, scored on a sacrifice fly and Bryan Reynolds hit his 14th homer for a quick 2-0 lead.

Gray (5-6) didn’t give up another hit before leaving four a pinch-hitter in the sixth. He walked four — one intentional — hit a batter and struck out five to continue the strong run of outings by Colorado starters.

The three starters in the series combined to allow just two runs and six hits over 20 innings. Pittsburgh finished with only nine hits in the three games.

C.J. Cron’ led off the Colorado fourth with his 11th home run. The Rockies scored two more in the fifth off Pittsburgh starter Chad Kuhl (2-5).

A combined four hits in the sixth against relievers Chris Stratton and Sam Howard added two more runs and Colorado tacked on another in the seventh.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Pirates: INF Colin Moran was out of the lineup for the second straight game. He was hit by a pitch on the left wrist in Monday’s game. … LHP Steven Brault (left lat strain) was slated to throw two innings of a simulation game in Bradenton, Florida, on Wednesday. … RHP Trevor Cahill (left calf strain) has resumed running.

Rockies: RHP Mychal Givens (back) is scheduled to throw in rehab games with Triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday and Friday. … LHP Kyle Freeland, who left Monday’s game with a tight right hamstring, was throwing on the field before the game.

BIRTHDAY BOY

Colorado manager Bud Black celebrated his 64th birthday on Wednesday. Black never pitched on his birthday in his 15-year major league career but is 8-3 as a manager on June 30th.

UP NEXT

Pirates: RHP Wil Crowe (1-4, 6.50 ERA) opens a seven-game homestand when he faces the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday night.

Rockies: RHP Antonio Senzatela (2-7, 4.76) takes the mound when Colorado faces St. Louis in Nolan Arenado’s first trip to Coors Field since he was trade to the Cardinals in the offseason.

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