Pirates 9, Rockies 3
DENVER -- The Pittsburgh Pirates crept closer to clinching a spot in the National League playoffs Monday night, beating the Colorado Rockies 9-3 at Coors Field.
The Pirates' magic number for making the playoffs is two. They could assure themselves of playing in the postseason by beating the Rockies on Tuesday night and having the San Francisco Giants and Washington Nationals both lose.
Pirates left fielder Starling Marte tied his career high with four hits, and he drove in two runs with a first-inning homer and sixth-inning double. Third baseman Aramis Ramirez also homered in the first off Rockies starter Jon Gray (0-2).
Shortstop Jordy Mercer also matched his career high with four hits, including two run-scoring doubles, as the Pirates won their third consecutive game following a four-game skid.
A.J. Burnett (9-5) held the Rockies to three runs, two earned, in 5 2/3 innings before five Pittsburgh relievers combined to hold the Rockies scoreless for the final 3 1/3 innings.
In his third start since missing six weeks due to right elbow inflammation, Burnett allowed six hits and four walks while striking out five. He left with the bases loaded and two outs in the sixth, but Antonio Bastardo got center fielder Charlie Blackmon to hit an inning-ending flyout.
The Rockies, trailing 6-3 at the time, left the bases loaded for the second inning in a row.
The five strikeouts gave Burnett 2,499 for his career, leaving him on the verge of becoming the 32nd pitcher in major league history with 2,500 strikeouts. Hall of Famer Christy Mathewson ranks 31st with 2,507 strikeouts.
The Pirates broke the game open with a three-run ninth. They scored on a run-scoring single by Ramirez, a groundout and a throwing error by catcher Tom Murphy. Pinch runner Keon Broxton, who was brought up from Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday and made his major league debut, stole third and scored when Murphy threw the ball into left field.
The Pirates boosted their lead to 6-3 in the sixth when Marte lined a two-out double off reliever Scott Oberg, who had just entered the game. The hit scored Mercer, who led off the inning with a single.
After being held to two singles and no runs through the fourth, Murphy got the Rockies back in the game with a three-run homer in the fifth off Burnett, cutting Pittsburgh's lead to 5-3.
The Pirates should have turned a double play that would have left the Rockies with two outs and the bases empty, but first baseman Pedro Alvarez dropped an easy throw. Left fielder Corey Dickerson singled off the right field wall, and Murphy followed with his second career homer in his fifth game.
With two outs, Blackmon singled and stole second and third, giving him 40 stolen bases for the season, while Burnett was in the process of walking shortstop Jose Reyes on four pitches.
A five-pitch walk to right fielder Carlos Gonzalez loaded the bases for cleanup-hitting third baseman Nolan Arenado. He struck out for the third straight at-bat, this time on three pitches.
Gray lasted 4 2/3 innings and allowed nine hits, including two homers and two run-scoring doubles, and five runs while throwing 81 pitches.
NOTES: Pirates INF Jung Ho Kang (left knee surgery) was placed on the 60-day disabled list. The Pirates selected the contract of OF Keon Broxton from Triple-A Indianapolis. ... Rockies LHP Yohan Flande will have to throw a bullpen session Wednesday in order to make his scheduled start Friday against the Dodgers. Flande sustained a left patellar tendon contusion when he was struck just below the left knee with a line drive in his Saturday start. ... Rockies C Tom Murphy made his fourth start. Manager Walt Weiss said he intends to alternate Murphy and fellow rookie C Dustin Garneau pretty much on a daily basis. Season-ending injuries to C Michael McKenry and C Nick Hundley resulted in the promotions of Garneau on Aug. 19 and Murphy on Sept. 11 from Triple-A Albuquerque.