Rockies pull out victory over Braves
DENVER -- The Colorado Rockies hit two rapid-fire two-run homers Friday night on their way to a 4-3 win over the Atlanta Braves but did major damage with a 70-foot roller.
Nolan Arenado, rested after not playing Thursday, hit a two-run homer in the sixth, and two batters later, Trevor Story hit a two-run shot.
But a single that barely made it past the pitcher's mound was instrumental in the Rockies eighth straight win over the Braves at Coors Field dating back to June 2014 and their 10th in the past 11 games overall against them.
The Rockies survived a late Braves charge. Jace Peterson hit a two-run homer in the eighth to make it a one-run game, but struck out with the bases loaded in the ninth against closer Carlos Estevez to end it.
Mark Reynolds led off the fifth with a grounder to the right of the mound. Braves ace Julio Teheran moved toward the ball and lunged to his left for it. After throwing one warmup pitch, Teheran departed with right lat tightness and was listed day-to-day.
Teheran held the Rockies scoreless for four innings, after blanking them for seven innings Sunday. So his departure made matters considerably easier for the Rockies' hitters.
Jon Gray (6-4), who matched Teheran with seven scoreless innings Sunday, held the Braves to one run and six hits in seven innings with one walk and eight strikeouts -- all swinging as he overmatched the Braves with his slider.
Gray improved to 4-0 with a 4.22 ERA in eight starts this season at Coors Field. In four starts this month, Gray is 1-1 with a 2.05 ERA (26 1/3 innings, 6 earned runs).
Arenado followed a leadoff walk to DJ LeMahieu in the sixth with a drive to left-center for his 24th homer on a 2-2 sinker from Joel De La Cruz (0-3). Dario Alvarez came on and gave up a single to Carlos Gonzalez, followed by Trevor Story's 24th homer, a drive to deep left on a 2-1 curveball.
Jason Motte relieved Gray and gave up a leadoff single to pinch-hitter Chase d'Arnaud followed by a two-run homer to Jace Peterson, a shot into the second deck in right field that made it a one-run game. It was his fifth homer of the season and ended the night for Motte, who has six homers in 19 2/3 innings this season.
Adonis Garcia led off the ninth with a double against Estevez, who then walked Ender Inciarte. After Anthony Recker sacrificed both runners into scoring position, Erick Aybar walked to load the bases. d'Arnaud popped to shortstop.
Trainer Keith Dugger and manager Walt Weiss then went to the mound, watched Estevez throw two warm-up pitches and kept him in the game. Estevez struck out Peterson, who was unable to check his swing on Estevez's 30th pitch and 15th strike.
Gray and Teheran each pitched seven scoreless innings when they matched up Sunday at Atlanta. They were locked up in another taut duel until Teheran left the game in the fifth.
Gray gave up one run and four hits through five innings with one walk and seven strikeouts -- all swinging -- as he overmatched the Braves with his slider.
Teheran departed after giving up an infield single to start the fifth. Mark Reynolds hit a slow grounder to the right of Teheran. He lunged for the ball but was unable to reach it. Third baseman Adonis Garcia made a charging, barehanded pick up but Reynolds beat his throw.
Teheran then threw one warmup pitch and walked off the mound, and Joel De La Cruz came on to pitch for the Braves. He picked Reynolds off first but gave up a double to Nick Hundley. Gray's groundout moved Hundley to third, but De La Cruz got Charlie Blackmon to fly to short left field.
Some good fortune enabled the Braves to score a run in the first. Freddie Freeman hit a two-out liner that left fielder Ryan Raburn caught, but was unable to hold the ball as he banged into the wall, and Freeman ended up with a triple. Freeman scored when Nick Markakis hit a slow roller that Arenado unsuccessfully tried to barehand.
The Braves threatened in the second with Recker's one-out double, followed by a walk. Teheran sacrificed the runners into scoring position, but Gray snared Peterson's hard comebacker and ended the inning.
Teheran worked out of trouble in the first. Blackmon led off with a single and stole second as LeMahieu struck out. Teheran picked Blackmon off second but gave up a triple to Arenado. Shortstop Erick Aybar made a nice play to his right to glove Carlos Gonzalez's grounder, and first baseman Freeman dug out Aybar's low throw on a close play at first.
After Arenado's triple, Teheran retired nine straight batters before issuing a two-out walk to Gonzalez in the fourth. Teheran walked Story but struck out Raburn to end the inning.
NOTES: Rockies CF Charlie Blackmon extended his career-high hitting streak to 14 games with a single in the first. ... Colorado LHP Chris Rusin (left shoulder strain) is scheduled to throw five innings and/or 75 pitches Sunday night at Fresno in his third rehab start for Triple-A Albuquerque and join the Rockies on Monday in Baltimore to be reevaluated. ... Rockies RF Carlos Gonzalez's 20th homer Thursday gave him at least 20 homers in six seasons with the Rockies, making him the sixth player in franchise history to have six or more seasons with 20 home runs. ... Braves RHP Shea Simmons, who underwent Tommy John surgery Feb. 12, 2015, will make his first rehab appearance Saturday for the rookie level Gulf Coast League Braves and throw one inning and/or 20 pitches. ... Rockies C Tony Wolters is playing with nine stitches in his chin. He was bunting Monday off a pitching machine and took a ball directly off his chin.