Gray leads Rox past Phillies

DENVER — Jon Gray pitched seven innings of one-run ball, Pat Valaika homered and the Colorado Rockies rode a big early lead to an 8-5 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday night.

Gerardo Parra added three hits and two RBIs for the Rockies who won for the fourth time in five games.

Daniel Nava homered, tripled and singled to finish a double shy of the cycle for the Phillies, who fell to 0-5 on their eight-game road trip.

Gray (4-2) allowed six hits and struck out four, giving the Rockies a quality start the night after they had to lean on their bullpen when starter Kyle Freeland was forced to leave in the first inning because of a left groin strain.

Trailing by seven runs, the Phillies got a three-run homer from Nava in the eighth inning off reliever Zac Rosscup, pulling within 8-4.

Pat Neshek finished up, allowing an RBI single by Freddy Galvis in the ninth in his first appearance against his former team since the Rockies acquired him in a July 26 trade.

The Rockies batted around in the first inning and Nick Pivetta (4-7) did himself no favors by walking leadoff man Charlie Blackmon, and then hitting D.J. LeMahieu with a pitch before Nolan Arenado singled to load the bases.

Parra followed with another single and Pivetta trailed 2-0 before recording an out.

A fielding error by first baseman Tommy Joseph opened the door to two unearned runs during the Rockies’ five-run first which also included a sacrifice fly by Jonathan Lucroy and an RBI single by Valaika.

Colorado pulled in front 8-0, tacking on three more runs in the third when Valaika hit a two-run homer and Carlos Gonzalez had a sacrifice fly.

Philadelphia’s first run didn’t come until the fourth on Nick Williams’ double-play grounder.

The Phillies loaded the bases with two outs in the fifth but first baseman Mark Reynolds made a diving catch of Galvis’ liner to end the threat.

Pivetta allowed eight runs — six earned — in 2 2/3 innings.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Phillies: OF Aaron Altherr was placed on the 10-day disabled list after leaving Friday night’s game in the eighth inning with a strained right hamstring. … OF Cameron Perkins was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to fill his roster spot.

Rockies: Freeland has been placed on the 10-day disabled list with the left groin strain. … INF-OF Ian Desmond, sidelined with a right calf strain since July 28, did light conditioning work in the field and took swings in the batting cage. The developments are encouraging but there’s still no timetable for his return, manager Bud Black said.

UP NEXT

Phillies: RHP Aaron Nola (8-7, 3.16 ERA) has allowed two or fewer runs in each of his last eight starts, going 5-2 in that span.

Rockies: Rookie RHP Jeff Hoffman (6-3, 5.58 ERA) is slated to make his second career start against the Phillies. He beat the Phillies the first time he faced them May 22 at Citizen’s Bank Park, going seven innings and allowing one run and three hits.