Jon Gray pitched into the eighth inning in his return to the rotation, Carlos Gonzalez homered, and the host Colorado Rockies beat the Seattle Mariners 4-1 at Coors Field on Saturday night.

Nolan Arenado and Ian Desmond had two hits and an RBI apiece for the Rockies, who have won four straight and nine of their last 11.

Chris Herrmann had an RBI for the Mariners, who have lost four of their five games against Colorado this season.

Gray (8-7) was Colorado's Opening Day starter and took the ball in the NL Wild Card game last October, but struggled for much of the season. He was demoted to Triple-A Albuquerque in June and made two starts for the Isotopes.

A blister on the middle finger of Chad Bettis' pitching hand created an opening for Gray, who made the most of it. He tossed just 93 pitches in 7 1/3 innings and carried a shutout into the eighth inning. Leading 4-0, he retired the first batter before Ben Gamel singled and Herrmann doubled to put Seattle on the board.

Gray was lifted after a pinch-hit single by Nelson Cruz put runners on the corners. Adam Ottavino came on and got Dee Gordon to ground to Arenado at third, and he threw out Herrmann at home. Jean Segura struck out to end the inning.

Gray allowed just the one run on five hits, walked one and struck out six. Wade Davis pitched the ninth for his 27th save.

The Rockies took the lead in the second inning off of starter Wade LeBlanc. Trevor Story led off with a single and Gonzalez followed with his 11th home run to make it 2-0.

Colorado expanded the lead in the fifth. Charlie Blackmon had a one-out single and Desmond followed with an RBI triple to center. Matt Festa relieved LeBlanc and gave up an RBI single to Arenado that made it 4-0.

In dropping his first decision of the season LeBlanc (5-1) allowed four runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out three.

--Field Level Media