Pirates 9, Rockies 8 (12 innings)
DENVER -- The Pittsburgh Pirates blew an early seven-run lead but salvaged a 9-8 win over the Colorado Rockies in 12 innings Wednesday night on Jordy Mercer's two-out double.
The hit came off Carlos Estevez (0-1), who made his third appearance in the majors and was working his second inning. With one out, he walked Gregory Polanco. After Matt Joyce flied out, Mercer doubled to deep right-center.
The win was the eighth straight at Coors Field for the Pirates, who have won six of their past seven games. The Rockies have lost five straight and are 1-5 on their homestand that ends with the series finale Thursday.
Kyle Lobstein (2-0) pitched three scoreless innings before Mark Melancon worked the 12th to earn his fifth save. With one out, he walked DJ LeMahieu, who stole second while Melancon was in the process of walking pinch-hitter Tony Wolters. The runners moved up as Gerardo Parra grounded to second. Melancon ended the game by throwing a called third strike past Trevor Story.
The Rockies overcame a deficit of seven or more runs for the first time since Aug. 25, 2010 against Atlanta, when they trailed 7-0 and 10-1 but won 12-10.
Parra tied the game at 8 with his second homer in the eighth after Mark Reynolds' two-run shot in the seventh trimmed the Pirates' lead to 8-7. Parra's homer came against left-hander Tony Watson, who had given four homers to left-handed hitters in 459 career plate appearances.
Polanco drove Justin Miller's 3-1 fastball over the wall in center with two outs in the seventh. It was Polanco's second homer of the season and put the Pirates ahead 8-5.
Pirates starter Jon Niese left after giving up three singles to start the sixth. Second baseman Josh Harrison knocked down pinch hitter Cristhian Adames' hard grounder, which shortstop Mercer picked up and turned into a run-scoring 4-6-5 fielder's choice to cut Pittsburgh's lead to 7-5.
Niese held Colorado to two hits through three scoreless innings before the Rockies began cutting into a seven-run deficit in the fourth when Story and Nolan Arenado homered, the ninth of the season for each player.
Reynolds doubled and scored when Ryan Raburn tripled off the wall in center. Raburn scored on LeMahieu's single, trimming the Pirates' lead to 7-4.
The Rockies batted around in the inning, which ended on Parra's hard liner to right.
Rockies starter Jon Gray is still seeking his first victory after 12 career starts. Gray lasted 3 2/3 innings and threw 96 pitches while giving up nine hits and six runs. The Pirates fouled off 23 of Gray's pitches, 12 with two strikes.
Gray left in the fourth after giving up a two-out, run-scoring double off the left-field wall to David Freese. The hit scored Niese, who led off the inning with a single and moved to second when Gray fired a wild pitch well beyond catcher Nick Hundley's outstretched glove.
Eddie Butler, brought up from Triple-A Albuquerque earlier in the day, relieved Gray and gave up an infield single to Sterling Marte.
Marte was called out initially after third baseman Nolan Arenado fielded his grounder near the foul line and made a strong throw. But the Pirates challenged the call, which was overturned, and Francisco Cervelli then rifled a two-run double to right that made it 7-0.
Gray through 42 pitches in a laborious third when the Pirates scored three runs to take a 4-0 lead. Freese singled home a run after John Jaso and Andrew McCutchen opened the inning with singles. McCutchen's was on a checked swing, with the ball rolling through the right side.
Gray loaded the bases with one out on a walk, Polanco lined a sacrifice fly to center and Harrison followed with a run-scoring single.
The Pirates pushed across a run in the second. Cervelli led off with an infield single, beating the throw from LeMahieu after he made a diving stop at second. With one out, Harrison singled to right, sending Cervelli to third, and Mercer grounded into a run-scoring fielder's choice.
NOTES: The Rockies' starters have a 9.90 ERA (22 earned runs, 20 innings) in the past five games. ... Rockies SS Trevor Story hit his ninth homer, setting a National League record for April homers by a rookie. Albert Pujols set the old NL record of eight in 2001. Jose Abreu of the Chicago White Sox set the major league record with 10 in 2014. ... Rockies LHP Jorge De La Rosa (left groin strain) was placed on the 15-day disabled list. He was injured running out a grounder in the third inning Tuesday night and left the game. ... Rockies RHP Eddie Butler was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque, where he is 2-0 with a 4.09 ERA in four starts. He will be in the bullpen as a long reliever initially but could replace De La Rosa when his turn in the rotation comes up Sunday at Arizona. ... Rockies CF Charlie Blackmon (turf toe, left foot) is scheduled to complete a two-game rehab assignment and play the entire game for Class A Modesto at Visalia. If all goes well, Blackmon will be activated Friday at Arizona. ... Rockies LHP Tyler Matzek (anxiety) will throw batting practice for the first time Friday in extended spring training in Scottsdale, Ariz. ... Pirates CF Andrew McCutchen had his first multi-RBI game of the season Tuesday, when he hit three homers with five RBIs. With 156 home runs for the Pirates, McCutchen ranks eighth in franchise history. ... Pirates 3B Jung Ho Kang (left knee surgery) was scheduled to complete his second set of back-to-back games on his rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis that began April 18.