Braves vs. Rockies Series Recap (7/29-8/1)
By Eric Graff
Game 1: Braves 9, Rockies 8
Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
The first game in the series was a crazy one with a whole lot going on. First off you had the return of Brandon Beachy to the Braves rotation for the first time since his “Tommy John” surgery about 13 months ago. It was a rough go for Brandon in his first outting. He didn’t make it out of the 4th inning giving up 7 ER on 8 hits and walking one. He did strikeout 5, which means his stuff was there, but he just could not locate pitches. Traditionally the command is the last thing to come back after this type of injury, so I think Beachy will be fine. Good thing the Braves offense came to play. They put up a 6 spot in the bottom of the third to get the Braves back in the game highlighted by a Chris Johnson 2 run double. With Craig Kimbrel unavailable after pitching 3 straight days, Jordan Walden tried to close the game out in the 9th for the Braves. He gave up the tying run and left the bases loaded and Todd Helton at the plate for a guy that wasn’t even in the park when the game started, Scott Downs. The Braves had just traded for Downs earlier that day and didn’t even make it to the park before the start of the game. Hell of a spot to put the guy in, but he came out roses as he needed only 1 pitch to get Helton to line-out back to him to end the threat. Uggla started off the bottom of the 9th with a walk, then Simmons hit a liner into the left-centerfield gap to walk it off for the Braves. Crazy to see the Braves score 9 in a game without any homers, but they did get 4 doubles and Simmons walk-off triple.
Game 2: Braves 11, Rockies 3
Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Freddie Freeman homered twice and Brian McCann added a 3-run homer to help rookie Alex Wood earn his first major league win. Jason Heyward added 3 hits and scored 3 runs from the lead-off spot as the Braves offense erupted yet again. Alex Wood had a rocky start to the game giving up 3 runs in the first 2 innings, but settled down after that to finish with 7 strong innings pitched. Wood didn’t allow a run after the 2nd and collected 7 strikeouts while only walking 1. I am excited to see what he can do with the rest of the season in the rotation. Todd Cunningham pinch hit for Wood in the 7th and collected his first MLB hit in his first AB.
Game 3: Braves 9, Rockies 0
Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Braves ace Mike Minor dominated the Rockies lineup, only allowing 2 hits over his 7 innings. Minor didn’t walk anyone and struck-out 6 while lowering his season ERA to 2.75. Not that they needed it with Minor on the mound, but the Braves offense exploded for the 3rd straight game and put up a 7 spot in the 3rd inning. This was the third game in a row that the Braves have had a 6-run or better inning. The big blast was Brian McCann’s 15th homer of the season, a 3-run shot, in the 7-run 3rd. Freddie Freeman followed up his 2 homer night with a 4-4 performance with a walk and 2 more RBI to add to his team leading 71. Justin Upton added 3 hits while Evan Gattis, Chris Johnson and Andrelton Simmons each added 2 to the hitting parade.
Game 4: Braves 11, Rockies 2
Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
The Braves finished off the 4-game sweep with another great offensive game added to another wonderful pitching performance. I’m sensing a theme here. Justin Upton finally found his lost power stroke and mashed 2 homers and drove in 5 runs to pace the Braves attack. Julio Teheran backed up the offense with another great performance. Teheran only went 5 innings, but struck out 11 Rockies to tie a season and career high. Chris Johnson just continues to hit like a madman, gathering 3 more to raise his NL leading average to .346 and also drove in 2 runs.
For the series, the Braves outscored the Rockies 40-13. The Braves take the season series from the Rockies by winning 6 of their 7 meetings. Take a look at how insane the numbers were from most of our regulars during the 4 game series:
- Jason Heyward: 6-17, 3 BB, 9 runs, HR, 5 RBI
- Justin Upton: 8-18, 2 2B, 2 HR, 5 runs, 6 RBI
- Freddie Freeman: 9-18, 8 runs, 2 HR, 6 RBI
- Evan Gattis: 3-19, 3 runs, 4 RBI
- Brian McCann: 3-11, 2 HR, 7 RBI
- Chris Johnson: 9-19, 3 runs, 5 RBI
- Dan Uggla: 2-17, 2 BB, 3 runs, 2 RBI
- Andrelton Simmons: 7-16, 2B, 3B, 2 runs, 2 RBI