Pacheco homers as Rockies beat Marlins 3-2

DENVER (AP) -- The Colorado Rockies didn't let two more injuries interfere with their best homestand in nearly three months.

Jordan Pacheco homered among his three hits as the banged-up Rockies slowed down Giancarlo Stanton and beat the Miami Marlins 3-2 Sunday.

Colorado, employing mostly young players, finished the homestand 5-2, their best since going 6-1 in May 28-June 3.

"They want to win," outfielder Dexter Fowler said. "Even though they're young they're learning and going out and playing hard."

The young players have been forced into service due to a rash of injuries that have hit the club, including two more Sunday.

Rockies outfielder Eric Young Jr. left after one inning with a strain in his left ribcage and shortstop Josh Rutledge exited in the fifth with tightness in his left thigh.

Before the game, Colorado put outfielder Michael Cuddyer back on the 15-day disabled list after he aggravated a right oblique strain in Saturday's loss.

"There's nothing you can do about other people getting hurt," pitcher Adam Ottavino said. "When you come into a tough spot all you can do is just keep playing. That's all we're trying to do."

Young said after the game the injury wasn't serious and he would miss one or two games. Colorado plays the Mets in New York on Monday.

The Rockies overcame some close calls as well. Emilio Bonifacio was called safe at first on a grounder to shortstop to lead off the game. Rockies manager Jim Tracy argued that first baseman Tyler Colvin kept his foot on the bag.

In the eighth, Colvin was called out on a close play at home, bringing Tracy out again.

"There were a few questionable calls today, one of which cost a run on the very first play of the game," Tracy said. "I don't have a comment beyond that."

Stanton went homerless for the first time in seven games at Coors Field. On Saturday night, he became the first player in big league history to homer in his first six games in a particular park, the Marlins said in citing the Elias Sports Bureau.

Stanton drew two intentional walks and went 0 for 2 in the series finale.

"They had a smart strategy," Miami manager Ozzie Guillen said. "A couple of times they didn't pitch to him and did a great job on him."

John Buck homered for the Marlins.

Ottavino (5-1) tossed three scoreless innings for the win and Rafael Betancourt pitched the ninth for his 23rd save.

Josh Johnson (7-10) lost his third consecutive start. He gave up three runs and seven hits in seven innings.

"You have to give these young kids a lot of credit," Tracy said. "I don't know how many we had on the field today who didn't have any idea who Josh Johnson was let alone take an at-bat against him."

Colorado looked overmatched early by Johnson but broke through in the fourth. Rutledge reached on an infield hit - Colorado's first of the game - and scored on Dexter Fowler 's double.

Two outs later Pacheco homered to left to give the Rockies a 3-2 lead. It was his second of the year and first since May 17, a span of 279 at-bats.

"He's pitching well, but we got some good pitches to hit and did something with them," Fowler said.

Rockies starter Drew Pomeranz allowed two runs on three hits and four walks in four innings. The key player in the trade that sent Ubaldo Jimenez to Cleveland last season, Pomeranz is 1-7 and has failed to pitch more than four innings in each of his last four starts.

The Marlins got to him early, scoring an unearned run in the first. Bonifacio, who reached on Rutledge's throwing error, scored on Carlos Lee 's groundout.

Pomeranz intentionally walked Stanton to load the bases before Buck grounded out to end the threat.

"It made sense," Stanton said. "There was an open base. Donnie Murphy has been out for a while. Why not give it a chance?"

Buck led off the fourth with his ninth home run to make it 2-0.

Ottavino shut down the Marlins on one hit in three innings. He worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth and retired the final eight batters he faced.

The Marlins stranded nine runners.

"We had a chance to open this game up," Guillen said. "We left a lot of guys out there and couldn't get the game to the bullpen."

NOTES: Fowler hit safely in five of the six games he played on the homestand. ... The Marlins activated Bonifacio and Murphy from the 15-day DL. ... Pacheco has six three-hit games this season. ... Buck has a six-game hitting streak at Coors Field, dating back to June 13, 2010.

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