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Tommy Joseph Homer Lifts Phillies Over Rockies, 5-3

DENVER (AP) — Tommy Joseph hit a pinch-hit, three-run home run in the seventh inning to help the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Colorado Rockies 5-3 on Friday night.

Vince Velasquez (8-2) allowed two runs over six innings and won his third straight decision since coming off the 15-day disabled list with a right biceps strain on June 27. He struck out six and walked two on 98 pitches.

The Phillies snapped a five-game losing streak to the Rockies and have won eight of their last 10 overall.

Rockies starter Jon Gray left the game with a 2-0 lead and runners on the corners with one out in the seventh. The Phillies put up four runs in their next two at-bats off reliever Jake McGee (0-3), starting with Cesar Hernandez's RBI single followed by Joseph's home run to left field.

Freddy Galvis scored on an error in the ninth to extend the lead to 5-3. Jeanmar Gomez got four outs to earn his 24th save.

Gray struck out eight and walked two in one of his strongest outings of the year. Trevor Story drove in two runs and Carlos Gonzalez brought in another for Colorado.

Story's second RBI of the game was a line-drive single off Andrew Bailey to trim the deficit to 4-3 in the seventh. Later in the inning, Mark Reynolds grounded out with the bases loaded off Hector Neris.

CATCH OF THE NIGHT

Tyler Goeddel made a leaping catch in left field with a runner in scoring position in the eighth. The Phillies were clinging to a 4-3 lead at that point in the game.

#STORYTIME OVER

Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and Denver Nuggets rookie Jamal Murray were among the thousands that took to Twitter to vote #StoryTime in hopes of getting the rookie shortstop to the All-Star game. Others furiously texted, including Rockies skipper Walt Weiss who said he punched his vote for Story "several hundred" times.

Their efforts came up a bit short, though, as Brandon Belt of the Giants in the NL and Michael Saunders of the Blue Jays in the AL were announced the winners of the final All-Star spot Friday afternoon. Story finished third in the NL.

"I thought Trevor (should be in) given that I think he's had historically probably one of the greatest first halves to a rookie season ever," Weiss said. "I would have loved to see him in that All-Star game. I think he'll be there many times before it's all said and done."

Story made a pretty strong case before the polls closed Friday, hitting two home runs against the Phillies on Thursday, tying him with Dave Kingman (1972) and Albert Pujols (2001) as the only NL rookies to hit 21 prior to the break.

"Every player wants to be the best they can, be an All-Star," Story said. "It'll motivate me for sure."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Phillies: RHP Andrew Bailey (hamstring) was activated off the 15-day disabled list Friday.

Rockies: OF Gerardo Parra (ankle) participated in running drills for the first time since he went on the 15-day disabled list in the middle of June, Weiss said.

UP NEXT

Phillies: RHP Jerad Eickhoff (6-9, 3.30 ERA) is 4-2 and has allowed three or fewer runs in his last seven starts.

Rockies: LHP Tyler Anderson (0-3, 3.03 ERA) has been solid, but the Rockies have scored just four runs with him in the game in his five starts.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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