Blackmon homers, Jon Gray pitches Rockies over Dodgers

Rockies 5 Dodgers 3 COL: 44-39 overall

LAD: 56-29 overall

DENVER — Jon Gray pitched effectively into the seventh inning and Charlie Blackmon homered to lead the Colorado Rockies past the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-3 on Saturday night.

Gray (9-5) allowed three runs, two earned, and struck out eight over 6 2/3 innings to give Colorado’s tired bullpen some rest. He outdueled Los Angeles lefty Clayton Kershaw, who was cruising until an error started a three-run rally in the sixth.

Nolan Arenado tied the game with a single and Mark Reynolds’ two-out, two-run single put the Rockies up by two after six. The Dodgers threatened in the seventh but Jairo Diaz struck out Justin Turner with two on to end the inning. Alex Verdugo had two hits and Edwin Rios got his first major league hit and drove in a run for the Dodgers.

Scuffling closer Wade Davis got three outs for his 12th save in 14 chances.

After nine straight games of unprecedented offense at Coors Field — the Rockies and their opponents combined for 170 runs — the pitchers were in control this time.

Kershaw (7-2) needed only 89 pitches to get through seven innings. He struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter, but gave up five runs — four earned. He added a single in two atbats.

Pat Valaika, who had two hits, led off the third with a single and Blackmon followed with his 19th homer to give Colorado a 2-1 lead. Los Angeles tied it in the fourth on Rios’ RBI triple and took the lead in the fifth on Verdugo’s single.

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The New York Yankees’ 17-13 win over Boston in London on Saturday had Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shaking his head. “That’s unbelievable,” he said before his team’s game. “Was that the Giants vs. the Patriots or the Jets vs. the Patriots?”