DENVER — Trevor Story boiled down his power surge to one concise reason.
“Not trying to do too much,” he explained.
And yet he’s doing plenty.
Story hit a pair of two-run homers as part of a career-high seven-RBI night and the Colorado Rockies beat the slumping Toronto Blue Jays 13-6 on Friday for their sixth straight win.
It was the 13th career multi-homer game for Story, whose 15 homers tied him with J.J. Hardy (2007) for the most by an NL shortstop before June in a single season, according to the Rockies.
Story also had a three-run double, walked and scored four times. Nolan Arenado added three hits, including two doubles, and three RBIs. Arenado batted .425 in May.
“We do have a good lineup,” said manager Bud Black, whose team’s 183 runs in May is tied for the fourth-most for a month in team history. “I think it’s deep. It has speed. It has power. It has average.”
Rockies starter German Marquez (6-2) proved just as difficult at the plate as on the mound. He lined two singles in extending his hitting streak to five games, which is the longest by a Rockies pitcher since Mike Hampton hit safely in eight straight in 2002.
On the mound, Marquez allowed two runs and struck out seven over seven efficient innings.
“Great job by Marquez,” Story said. “We lean on him and have a lot of confidence in him.”
For a change, Colorado didn’t have to fret late in the game after jumping out to an early 10-2 lead. The Rockies have four walk-off wins in going 7-1 so far on this season-high, 10-game homestand.
“It’s been nail-biters the past week or so,” Story said. “It’s nice to have a big lead early.”
Edwin Jackson (0-3) absorbed a majority of the damage. The veteran right-hander tied a career high by allowing 10 earned runs in lasting just 2 1/3 innings. Jackson remains winless in four starts with his 14th different team after being acquired in a trade with Oakland on May 11.
“It has been a while since I’ve been in a stretch like this. You lose confidence in periods like this,” Jackson said. “I still know what I am capable of doing. It’s a matter of doing what I can do, but I haven’t been doing it the last few starts.”
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a solo homer in the eighth during a four-run inning. Randal Grichuk had a solo shot in the second for the Blue Jays, who’ve dropped eight of their last nine games.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Blue Jays: RHP Aaron Sanchez is on track to start Sunday. He’s been dealing with fingernail/blister issues. … 1B Justin Smoak was given a rest day. … 1B Rowdy Tellez (hamstring) came out in the third inning as part of a double switch.
Rockies: OF Charlie Blackmon (right calf strain) is returning to some baseball activities, including the batting cage. “We’ve got to get to the point where he feels comfortable ramping up the intensity of running,” manager Bud Black said. … RHP Wade Davis (strained oblique) threw a side session Friday.
FAMILIAR AREA
Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo spent two seasons with the Denver Zephyrs during his minor league playing days, hitting 12 homers in 1991. The team moved to New Orleans after the ’92 season as the Rockies arrived in town.
“I remember that as a hitter when I played for the Zephyrs, I hit home runs here,” Montoyo cracked.
HOT CORNER
Arenado made to two plays at third with his bare hand, including one in the second when he ranged to his right and threw across his body to get Freddy Galvis and end the inning.
“At times, we take Nolan for granted, the plays he makes,” Black said. “You don’t see other guys doing it as consistently as he does.”
THIS & THAT
Rockies lefty Kyle Freeland was sent to Triple-A Albuquerque to work on his mechanics. Freeland is 2-6 with a 7.13 ERA this season. He finished fourth in NL Cy Young Award voting last season. … Rockies RHP Jesus Tinoco made his major league debut in the ninth after being recalled from Triple-A. He struck out two.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman (3-6, 2.74 ERA) gets his first taste of Coors Field on Saturday. The Rockies will throw righty Jon Gray (4-4, 4.52).
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Pat Graham, The Associated Press
