Mariners 10, Rockies 4
DENVER -- Nelson Cruz continued his home-run barrage, and pinch-hitter Franklin Gutierrez put the Seattle Mariners ahead with a two-run single Tuesday night as they beat the Colorado Rockies 10-4.
A close game turned into a runaway victory as the Mariners scored seven runs in the final four innings.
In what became a bullpen battle, the Mariners clearly prevailed. After spot starter Vidal Nuno worked 3 2/3 innings for the Mariners and surrendered three runs, Rob Rasmussen (1-0) worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings, retiring the four batters he faced and striking out two to earn his first major league win. He was the first of four Seattle relievers who combined to allow one run in 5 1/3 innings. By contrast, five Rockies relievers allowed a combined seven runs in five innings after Jon Gray departed.
Gray, the third overall pick in the 2013 draft and the Rockies top pitching prospect, worked four innings in his major league debut. He left trailing 3-1 but didn't figure in the decision when catcher Nick Hundley hit a two-run homer to tie the game in the fourth.
Two Rockies errors led to two unearned runs. Second baseman DJ LeMahieu fielded shortstop Brad Miller's slow roller in the sixth but dropped the ball as he was setting to throw.
That put runners on first and second and after catcher Jesus Sucre's sacrifice, Gutierrez lined a two-run single off left-hander Christian Friedrich (0-3), who had relieved Gray. That hit put the Mariners ahead 5-3.
Shortstop Jose Reyes' throwing error in the fourth led to an unearned run for the Mariners, who nicked Gray for two runs in the first when he threw 33 pitches, 16 strikes, before settling down.
Cruz greeted Scot Oberg with his 31st homer to start the seventh and give Seattle a 6-4 lead. Cruz has homered in five consecutive games, all on the road where he has hit 24 home runs. Oberg elevated a 96 mph fastball on a 1-2 count and paid dearly, as Cruz lined the ball into the seats in center field.
Oberg, who began his third stint with the Rockies this season on Saturday, has allowed nine home runs in 34 innings.
The Mariners blew the game open with a three-run eighth against Rafael Betancourt and Boone Logan. Austin Jackson singled home the first run, and second baseman Robinson Cano belted a two-run double, giving him three RBIs for the game.
First baseman Kyle Parker led off the sixth with his first major league home run, trimming the Mariners' lead to 5-4. It came on the second pitch from Mayckol Guaipe, who had just entered the game and was called Tuesday from Triple-A Tacoma.
The loss was the seventh in nine games for the Rockies, whose interleague record fell to 2-14. The Mariners won for the fourth time in five games.
Colorado catcher Nick Hundley's two-run homer in the fourth tied the game at 3 and assured Rockies starter Jon Gray of avoiding a loss in his major league debut.
Gray worked four innings on 77 pitches and allowed five hits and three runs (two earned) with two walks and four strikeouts. The Rockies will limit Gray's innings for the balance of the season to avoid a stressful increase over his 2014 workload. He arrived in the majors having thrown 114 1/3 innings at Triple-A Albuquerque after throwing 124 1/3 innings last year in Double-A.
Gray threw 33 pitches in the first and just 16 strikes while allowing two runs with two outs, giving the Mariners 10 consecutive two-out runs in the series. He issued a one-out walk to third baseman Kyle Seager, who scored on second baseman Robinson Cano's double, and first baseman Jesus Montero followed with a run-scoring single.
The Rockies quickly cut the lead in half when center fielder Charlie Blackmon led off the first with his 13th homer. It was Blackmon's 10th career homer leading off a game and fourth this season.
Seattle lefty Vidal Nuno lasted 3 2/3 innings in a spot start, taking the turn of J.A. Happ, whom the Mariners traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday.
With a two-out single in the fourth, Nuno increased Seattle's lead to 3-1. The hit scored left fielder Mark Trumbo, who led off with a single and was awarded two bases on a throwing error by shortstop Jose Reyes, the ball sailing past first baseman Kyle Parker.
That lead was short-lived, as Nuno gave up a one-out single to second baseman DJ LeMahieu followed by Hundley's ninth homer, his first this season against a left-handed pitcher.
Cruz extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a third-inning single.
NOTES: Mariners RHP Mayckol Guaipe was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma, and RHP Jose Ramirez was optioned to Tacoma. ... Seattle LHP Charlie Furbush (left biceps tendinitis) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday. Barring a setback, he then would go to Triple-A Tacoma for a brief rehab assignment. ... Rockies RHP Gonzalez Germen was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque to make room on the 25-man roster for RHP Jon Gray, whose contract was selected from Albuquerque and who made his major league debut. ... Rockies RHP Kyle Kendrick (right shoulder inflammation) underwent an MRI exam Monday that revealed no structural damage. ... Colorado RHP Chad Bettis (right elbow inflammation) threw 35 pitches and felt fine in his first bullpen session since going on the disabled list July 19. He is scheduled for a 45-pitch bullpen session Friday at Washington. ... Rockies LHP Aaron Laffey was outrighted to Triple-A Albuquerque.