Pirates 5, Rockies 4
DENVER -- Pedro Alvarez hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the eighth inning and the playoff-bound Pittsburgh Pirates rallied to beat the Colorado Rockies 5-4 on Thursday.
Outfielder Starling Marte had four hits and was 13-for-20 in the four-game series for the Pirates, who moved to within 3 1/2 games of St. Louis in the National League Central. The Cardinals played Milwaukee later Thursday.
Pittsburgh, which clinched at least a wild card Wednesday, has won six in a row.
Third baseman Nolan Arenado had two doubles for Colorado, which has lost five straight.
The Rockies, behind six strong innings from starter Chad Bettis, led 4-2 entering the eighth before the Pirates rallied against reliever Jairo Diaz (0-1). Marte and second baseman Neil Walker had one-out singles, and after shortstop Jordy Mercer struck out, Alvarez hit a 97-mph fastball into the Colorado bullpen to make it 5-4.
It was Alvarez's 26th home run of the season.
Joe Blanton (5-0) worked the seventh to pick up the win and Mark Melancon tossed a perfect ninth for his major league-leading 50th save, tops in the majors.
The Rockies took their first lead of the series off Padres starter Jeff Locke in the third inning. Bettis led off with a walk and moved to second on outfielder Corey Dickerson's single. After shortstop Cristhian Adames hit into a force play at second, Arenado doubled to left field to make it 2-1.
The double gave Arenado an NL-best 117 RBIs this season. He is second in the majors to Toronto third baseman Josh Donaldson.
The Pirates, who took a 1-0 lead on Marte's RBI single in the first, tied it at 2-2 in the fifth when third baseman Josh Harrison doubled and scored on a single by outfielder Jaff Decker.
Colorado went back in front in the bottom of the inning on Adames' triple that drove in Dickerson. The Rockies made it 4-2 in the sixth when outfielder Kyle Parker singled, stole second and scored on pinch-hitter Ben Paulsen's single.
NOTES: Pirates OF Gregory Polanco was out of the lineup after tweaking his left knee in the ninth inning of Wednesday night's victory. The injury does not appear to be serious, but manager Clint Hurdle said the team is "better served backing away from him." ... Rockies OF Brandon Barnes suffered a mild left hamstring strain Wednesday and could be out for what's left of the season. "It's possible," manager Walt Weiss said. "Hamstrings are one of those injuries that can linger." ... Pittsburgh 3B Aramis Ramirez missed his second straight game. Ramirez has a tight left groin after legging out a triple Tuesday. ... Colorado 3B Nolan Arenado returned to the lineup after sitting out Wednesday with a forehead contusion.