The Atlanta Braves took on the Colorado Rockies in hopes of a three game sweep. On paper it looked like the Braves had a huge advantage. Austin Gomber, the starter for the Rockies, had an expected ERA (xERA) north of 5.00, and Reynaldo López looked to dip his season ERA below 2.00.
The game started out great for the Braves. Reynaldo López sat down the first three batters he faced with relative ease via two lineups and a strikeout. The Braves also came out swinging with their bats. Harris lined out, but Soler hit a single, followed by a single from Ozuna. Olson flied out, but then with two strikes Laureano knocked in the run to give the Braves an early lead. With this much contact, it looked like the Braves were going to have a good time against Gomber.
Unfortunately, the offense came to a screeching halt against Gomber once Murphy popped up to end the inning.
López continued to look solid against the next two hitters, striking them both out, but then on an 0-2 count Michael Toglia hit an absolute bomb to dead center that traveled 451 ft to tie the game 1-1. Jones then singled, but López was able to limit anymore damage when he struck out Hunter Goodman on four pitches.
Things looked promising at first for the Braves in the second. Arcia hit a double to lead it off. It was a bang-bang play at second where Arcia was barely safe on a swim move on an excellent throw from left fielder Nate Jones. The Rockies challenged the play, but it was upheld. Arcia was then moved to third on an Urshela fly ball, but Williams then struck out and Harris popped up, unable to bring the run across.
In the third it was a quiet inning for both teams as both saw the minimum number of hitters. The same could be said for the next two innings except the Rockies managed a single.
The sixth is where the Rockies took their lead. Blackmon flied out, but López gave up his second HR of the night when Tovar hit his 22nd HR of the season to make the score 2-1. It looked like the Rockies might have created more drama when Doyle singled and then stole second when López struck out McMahon. However, López was able to secure yet another strikeout to end the top of the inning.
The Braves looked like they might show signs of life when Ozuna hit a single with one out, but then Olson grounded into a double play to end it.
For some reason, Luke Jackson came in the game in a scenario where there was only a one run difference. López ended his night with 6.0 IP, five hits, zero walks, and eleven strikeouts. Other than the two HR, he had an excellent outing.
Jackson then walked the leadoff hitter, who stole second and moved to third on a throwing error from Murphy. The very next batter, Nate Jones, hit a sac fly to make the score 1-3. After another fly out and walk, Jackson was replaced by Bummer, who struck out Blackmon.
The Braves offense was again silent in the seventh with the minimum hitters. The Rockies did not score in the eighth, but added some drama with a single, steal, and walk, but no further damage done.
If you guessed that the Braves again did absolutely nothing offensively in the eighth, you would be right. Minimum hitters yet again. John Brebbia (who has a 6.29 ERA) came in to pitch in the ninth making his Braves debut, and was fortunately able to garner two strikeouts and a lineout to end the top of the ninth.
Austin Gomber finished out his best start of the season being replaced in the ninth inning. He only pitched ninety-two pitches in 8.0 innings, while giving up five hits, one ER, zero walks, and six strikeouts.
Even with a new pitcher in, the Braves were anemic. The heart of the order was up and it resulted in a Soler strikeout, Ozuna strikeout, and Olson groundout to end the game with the Braves losing 3-1.
In a matchup that heavily favored the Braves, the offense let López down, who had an excellent showing through 6.0 innings of work in which he had a season high eleven strikeouts.
The Braves will be facing the Blue Jays tomorrow with Max Fried taking the mound.
