Rockies at Braves
Charlie Blackmon picked the perfect time to extend his hitting streak and keep the Colorado Rockies rolling entering the finale of a three-game series Sunday at the Atlanta Braves. Blackmon doubled home the tying and go-ahead runs with two outs in the ninth inning of Saturday’s 9-5 victory, and is batting .348 with three doubles, two triples, seven runs scored, three homers and nine RBIs during his 10-game streak as Colorado has won 10 of its past 12 games.
Colorado third baseman Nolan Arenado continued his power surge, homering in his fifth consecutive road game to give him six longballs in his past 11 games overall, while shortstop Trevor Story extended his career-long hitting streak to 15 games after following Blackmon’s game-winning hit with a three-run homer to cap a five-run ninth for the Rockies. The Braves lost for the eighth time in their past 11 games but continue to see signs of life offensively from center fielder Ender Inciarte. A career .261 hitter in the first half who started the season 7-for-44, Inciarte finished 1-for-3 with a homer and a walk in the defeat, raising his average to .302 in his past 12 contests. Atlanta enters the series finale trying to break an eight-game home losing streak against the Rockies, and the Braves have lost 25 of their past 34 games against Colorado dating back to June 11, 2014.
TV: 1:20 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado), FS South (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Tyler Anderson (0-2, 12.00 ERA) vs. Braves RH Kevin Gausman (1-2, 3.96)
Anderson struggled to a no-decision in his first start since returning from a stint on the injured list with left knee inflammation Monday against Washington, allowing five runs and three walks over three innings. The 29-year-old made two starts before landing on the IL, giving up 11 runs on 18 hits across nine innings in losses to Miami and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Anderson pitched six innings in his only career appearance against Atlanta, surrendering three runs on eight hits with six strikeouts to earn the victory on July 23, 2016.
Gausman battled through 5 1/3 innings Tuesday at Cincinnati but never could get into a rhythm, giving up six runs (five earned) on eight hits with two walks and six strikeouts in a 7-6 loss. The 28-year-old has limited opponents to a .195/.263/.356 slash line through his first four starts, striking out 28 with only eight walks across 25 innings. Gausman, who faces the Rockies for the first time in his career, brings a WHIP of 1.00 into Sunday’s outing and is 6-5 with a 3.19 ERA in 14 starts since being traded to Atlanta from Baltimore last July.
WALK-OFFS
1. Atlanta 1B Freddie Freeman extended his season-opening streak of reaching base to 26 games with his first-inning homer, pulling within one of the Atlanta-era record (27 games by J.D. Drew in 2004).
2. Rockies OF David Dahl finished 2-for-4 Saturday and enters the series finale hitting .362 on the season with a 1.023 OPS.
3. The Braves have lost five consecutive home games, despite leading in four of them, and were outscored 33-18 in that stretch.