Story goes deep, Rockies hold off Rays
DENVER -- Before his team began an important seven-game homestand Monday, Colorado Rockies manager Walt Weiss sized up the situation.
"There's a sense of urgency with our club, and I like the way they're responding so far," Weiss said.
Weiss was even more pleased when the Rockies beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-4, as relievers Adam Ottavino in the seventh and Jason Motte in the eighth stranded the tying run at third base.
The Rockies, who are on the fringe of the National League wild-card race, have won three of four and the Rays have lost three of four since the All-Star break. The downtrodden Rays fell for the 25th time in 29 games.
The Rockies play seven games this week at Coors Field, against the Rays and lowly Atlanta Braves, before their schedule gets very challenging. A seven-game trip to face the Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets after this homestand starts a stretch in which 29 of the Rockies' 35 games will be against teams with winning records.
Trevor Story hit a two-run homer for the Rockies, and Tyler Anderson stymied the Rays until he faltered in the seventh. Ottavino, in his fifth game since returning from Tommy John surgery, bailed out Anderson (2-3). Motte then came up big in the eighth with no margin for error.
With Colorado up 5-4, Evan Longoria led off the eighth with a triple against Motte, who had just taken the mound. It was Longoria's second triple of the game. Motte struck out pinch hitter Corey Dickerson, who returned to Coors Field for the first time since the Rockies traded him to the Rays in January, Logan Morrison and Steven Souza Jr.
Anderson issued a leadoff walk in the seventh and a run-scoring triple to Tim Beckham with one out. Luke Maile followed with a single that cut the Rockies' lead to 5-3. Pinch hitter Nick Franklin scorched a double just past shortstop Story that made it 5-4 and finished Anderson's workday.
Anderson allowed two hits through six innings and three in succession in the seventh. Ottavino relieved Anderson, who has pitched at least six innings in four straight starts and five of seven to start his career. In all, Anderson yielded four runs on five hits and three walks in 6 1/3 innings.
Franklin stole third while Ottavino was in the process of striking out Logan Forsythe. Ottavino stranded the tying run at third by getting Kevin Kiermaier to hit a slow roller to second.
Rays starter Drew Smyly (2-11) gave up nine hits and five runs in five innings, leaving him 0-7 over his past 10 starts and extending his career-high losing streak. The 11 defeats are also a career high for Smyly, who lost 10 games in 2014 when he pitched for both Detroit and Tampa Bay.
The homer Smyly allowed to Story was the 21st he has yielded this season. Smyly has surrendered homers in nine of his past 10 starts and a total of 14 homers in 55 2/3 innings in that span.
With two outs in the fifth, Gonzalez singled and Story hit a two-run homer to put the Rockies ahead 5-1. It was Story's 22nd homer of the season, and it gave the rookie 59 RBIs.
The start of the game was delayed 32 minutes due to rain.
NOTES: Rays 1B/2B Steve Pearce (right hamstring strain) joined the team and will be reinstated from the disabled list Tuesday. ... Tampa Bay RHP Chase Whitley made his first rehab start Monday since undergoing Tommy John surgery May 19, 2015. He struck out the side and allowed one hit while throwing one inning for Class A Charlotte. ... Rockies LF Gerardo Parra (high left ankle sprain) was a little stiff Saturday when he ran for a third consecutive day. He is waiting for his ankle to feel better before continuing his rehab. ... Rockies LHP Chris Rusin (left shoulder strain) is scheduled to make his second rehab start Tuesday for Triple-A Albuquerque and throw four innings and/or 60-65 pitches.... Rays CF Kevin Kiermaier, who typically bats eighth, hit second for the first time since 2014 because SS Brad Miller, a left-handed hitter who typically bats second, wasn't in the lineup. SS Tim Beckham, a right-handed hitter, started against Rockies LHP Tyler Anderson.