Major League Baseball

Gonzalez has 4 RBIs as surging Rockies beat Dodgers 7-3

Published Aug. 3, 2016 3:41 a.m. ET

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DENVER (AP) Carlos Gonzalez has fond memories of the last time the Colorado Rockies made the playoffs. With the way they've been playing since the All-Star break, those memories are becoming more vivid.

Gonzalez had four RBIs and three hits, Jon Gray labored through five shutout innings and the surging Rockies beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-3 on Tuesday night.

Colorado has won 10 of 12 to reach the .500 mark. The surprising Rockies moved within 3 1/2 games of the second NL wild card, with three teams between them and Miami.

Gonzalez has been a big part of Colorado's 13-5 record in the second half. He extended his hitting streak to 14 games, but perhaps more important he is remembering what it's like to be in the playoff hunt.

''For me, all I'm trying to do is win, win that spot in the postseason,'' said Gonzalez, who is hitting .353 during his streak. ''Last time I was there was 2009, my first season with the Rockies, and that was the best time of my career.''

The Rockies are playing the two teams ahead of them in the wild-card standings this week. They trail the Dodgers by six games and gained ground on the Marlins, who are in town this weekend.

''I look at the out-of-town scoreboard; that's what it's there for,'' manager Walt Weiss said. ''I know we're in the mix. We're playing well.''

The win took some of the sting off news that rookie shortstop Trevor Story will likely miss the rest of the season because of a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb. Story's 27 homers lead the NL and are the most by a rookie shortstop in National League history.

''It's tough to lose him because he's having a special year,'' Gonzalez said. ''At the same time, you've got to put that on the side. We have enough guys who are getting the job done.''

Josh Reddick went 0 for 4 in his Dodgers debut but made a difference in right field. He made a diving catch of Charlie Blackmon's sinking liner in the seventh and threw out Gonzalez at the plate in the eighth.

Reddick was acquired from Oakland on Monday in a five-player trade, leading to the demotion of outfielder Yasiel Puig.

Puig was sent to the minors. General manager Farhain Zaidi said Puig has 72 hours to report to Triple-A Oklahoma City and is expected to be there by the weekend.

''This is what we as an organization felt was the best for his development,'' manager Dave Roberts said. ''There are things on the field and off the field that he can continue to work on, and we can all continue to grow. We expect him to understand that this is not punitive, it's for his growth to ultimately become a better baseball player.''

Yasmani Grandal homered and Justin Turner had two doubles and two RBIs for Los Angeles.

The Rockies scored a run in the third and added three more in the fourth with only one hit. Brandon McCarthy (2-2) walked the first two batters of the inning and was lifted for Luis Avilan, who allowed both runners to score and another one in on Gonzalez's groundout that made it 4-0.

Gray (8-4) struck out six and allowed just two hits but needed 96 pitches to get through five innings. He worked around a 38-minute rain delay in the first.

''Gray's got a good arm and a good fastball,'' Roberts said. ''He was also throwing the change and mixing the breaking ball in there.''

Colorado scored three more off reliever Jesse Chavez, who made his Dodgers debut after coming over in a trade with Toronto on Monday. Gonzalez knocked in two with a double.

Turner spoiled the shutout bid with a two-run double in the eighth. Grandal hit a solo homer, his 16th, in the ninth.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Dodgers: LHP Rich Hill (hand) did some long tossing and will throw a bullpen Wednesday. Hill, who came to the Dodgers in the deal that included Reddick, might go out for one rehab start before making his Dodgers debut.

Rockies: RHP Chad Qualls (colitis) threw 18 pitches on the side. He is scheduled to throw a bullpen Wednesday. ... OF Gerardo Parra (ankle) is progressing and could be activated soon. He has been out since June 15.

FANDEMONIUM

Four fans jumped over the wall along the first base line and rushed the field carrying signs in the top of the seventh inning. They were tackled by security personnel before they could reach any players and were taken off the field.

A press release from Direct Action Everywhere, an animal rights group, claimed that the four people were activists with its group and carried signs that said ''Dodgers Torture Animals'' and ''Keep Animal Cruelty Out of Sports.''

UP NEXT

The Dodgers have not announced who will pitch against Colorado LHP Tyler Anderson on Wednesday. Anderson (3-3, 3.33 ERA) allowed one run in six innings during Colorado's win over the New York Mets on Thursday but didn't get a decision.