Braves 3, Rockies 1
Gavin Floyd allowed one run in 6 2/3 innings to earn his first victory since 2012, and Chris Johnson collected three hits and two RBIs as visiting Atlanta won the opener of a four-game series.
Floyd (1-2) allowed three hits with three walks and four strikeouts while throwing 60 of his 95 pitches for strikes. Johnson snapped a 2-for-13 skid by going 3-for-4, Evan Gattis drove in a run and Craig Kimbrel struck out two in the ninth for his 17th save.
Corey Dickerson homered for the Rockies, who are 3-13 in their past 16 games. Christian Bergman (0-1) pitched well in his major-league debut, allowing two runs on five hits in six innings with two walks and four strikeouts.
B.J. Upton led off the fourth with an infield single, stole second, moved to third on a flyout and scored on Gattis’ groundout to third for Atlanta’s first run. Johnson followed with a single to center, scoring Freddie Freeman to push the Braves’ advantage to 2-0.
Dickerson cut the lead in half leading off the seventh, hitting a 2-1 pitch from Floyd into the left-field seats for his eighth homer. Colorado put runners on second and third with two outs, but reliever Luis Avilan retired Charlie Blackmon on a comebacker to the mound to end the inning, and Johnson’s sharp single to center scored Justin Upton in the eighth to make it 3-1.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Floyd, who missed most of last season after Tommy John surgery, last won on Oct. 3, 2012 as a member of the Chicago White Sox. … Gattis extended his hitting streak to 10 games with an eighth-inning single. … Colorado placed INF/OF Michael Cuddyer (left shoulder) and RHP Eddie Butler (right rotator cuff inflammation) on the disabled list before the game.