Pirates’ struggles at Coors Field continue

Associated Press

DENVER

Nolan Arenado bounced back from a benching with three hits, including a home run, and the Colorado Rockies beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-1 on Saturday night.

Tyler Matzek pitched three-hit ball over seven scoreless innings. Drew Stubbs and Corey Dickerson also homered for the Rockies, who have won three straight.

Ike Davis denied Colorado its first shutout at home this season with a one-out homer in the ninth.

The Pirates came into Coors Field having won six of eight, but they’ve struggled against the Rockies. They’ve managed just two runs in the first two games in Denver, while Colorado has scored 16.

It was a bounce-back performance for Arenado, removed from Friday’s game when he didn’t hustle down the line on a grounder to the pitcher in the fourth inning.

Arenado met with manager Walt Weiss before Saturday’s game and said he agreed with the decision.

The 2013 Gold Glove winner took out any frustration he might have had on Pirates starter Jeff Locke.

Arenado delivered RBI singles in the third and fifth and then hit a solo home run in the seventh, his eighth of the year.

Dickerson added a two-out solo homer to chase Locke (2-2). That was more than enough for Matzek (2-4), who continued a recent string of strong starts for Colorado.

Locke allowed six runs on 10 hits and struck out six in 6 2-3 innings.