Categories crunchfx

Brenton Doyle hits home run and scores leadoff home run as Rockies hand Braves sixth loss, 6-5

DENVER (AP) — Brenton Doyle hits a home run and hit the leadoff home run in the seventh inning to help the Colorado Rockies beat the slumping Atlanta Braves 6-5 on Friday night.

Atlanta has lost six straight games to drop out of the NL wild card spot, a week after challenging the Philadelphia Phillies for first place in the NL East. It hasn’t helped the Braves’ recovery from this slump that they haven’t even faced a Colorado team they are 13-1 against since the start of 2022.

Atlanta had won nine straight against the Rockies since Sept. 5, 2021, including seven at Coors Field, but was unable to extend the streak after its starter blew a short exit.

Grant Holmes went the deepest distance a Braves pitcher has gone in their current slump, going five innings. Holmes allowed five runs and six hits with eight strikeouts and three walks, but was saved when Atlanta’s offense blew a 5-2 lead in the seventh inning. Ramón Laureano hit a solo homer and Jorge Soler hit a two-run homer to tie the game 5-5.

It was Soler’s first home run since signing from San Francisco and his 13th home run this season.

Doyle and Ryan McMahon put Colorado back in front with consecutive doubles off AJ Minter (5-4) in the bottom of the seventh.

Atlanta’s Jarred Kelenic homered for his third out in the ninth inning and was on third when Colorado’s Victor Vodnik picked up his seventh save by striking out Austin Riley.

Tyler Kinley (5-1) earned the win with a reliever inning.

Colorado rookie Tanner Gordon couldn’t get his first win in the majors after five solid innings. Gordon allowed a solo home run to Marcell Ozuna in the first inning, his team-leading 34th, but shut out Atlanta over the next three innings.

The Braves got another run in the fifth with a double and two bloop singles, but Gordon struck out Ozuna with runners on the corners to cap his night. He allowed six hits, had seven strikeouts and walked none.

Doyle’s two-run home run in the third inning was his 20th home run this season and Brendan Rodgers’ RBI single put his team ahead, 3-1, and Colorado added two more in the fourth inning.

NEXT

Braves left-handed pitcher Max Fried (7-6, 3.40) will be in the starting lineup on Saturday, while the Rockies are expected to recall right-handed pitcher Dakota Hudson (2-12, 5.84) from Triple-A.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb