DENVER ( Associated Press) — The sight of the Colorado Rockies dressed in a woods green uniform wasn’t nearly as normal — playing a second straight low-scoring, extra innings at Coors Field.
Or this: another straightforward clinch from Atlanta staff to pitch in a hitter-friendly park.
Adam Duvall scored an 11th inning of four with a two-run homer and the Braves spoiled the start of Colorado’s new – and much greener – “City Connect” uniform as the Rockies beat the Rockies 6-2 on Saturday night.
But it was the arms of Atlanta that stole the show again. After placing the Rockies on three hits during Friday’s 3-1 win in 10 innings—it was going 0-0 in extras—he narrowed down Colorado’s bat to just three hits on Saturday.
For the first time in franchise history the Rockies have been held for three hits or less in back-to-back games at Coors Field.
“Unprecedented work,” said brave third baseman Austin Riley of his pitcher. “Can’t say enough.”
Or enough about hitting the clutch late in the game. Marcel Ozuna and William Contreras set the stage for Duvall in the 11th match by scoring a double off Zoulis Chasin (3-2).
Duvall’s outburst ended a sensational night for the Braves. Starter Spencer Strider and six relievers stunned the Rockies, with AJ Minter (2-0) winning and Jackson Stephens closing it in 11th place.
Of Coors Field, Minter said, “Everybody makes it the way it is.” “You have to give credit to this bullpen for just going out there and staying within yourself and not doing anything special.”
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, this was only the fifth time a game at Coors went into extra innings in a 1–1 draw.
“That was a good game — all the way through,” Riley said.
Both teams scored a run in the 10th – Ronald Acuna Jr of Atlanta on a sacrificial fly and Elias Diaz of Colorado on a run.
Riley hit his 14th homer of the season, a single shot in the sixth that tied the game.
Kyle Freeland smashed five hits in seven innings and scored three without a decision. Once again, he struggled to sync timely hitting with quality pitching.
“It’s disappointing,” Freeland said. “You want to be firing on all cylinders. You want your offense to be scoring runs, you want your pitchers to go out there and get deep into the game and throw goose eggs. If we want to go back to .500 So this is a place we have to reach and then start building from there.”
It was perhaps fitting, Freeland was the starter for the unveiling of the team’s new jersey, as he is a Denver native.
Usually decked out in purple, the Rockies wore green and white tops that featured a silhouette of the state’s snow-capped mountains. The look was completed with green pants, a white belt, and a yellow ‘5280’ patch on the right sleeve in honor of the city’s mile-high nickname.
Strider set the tone with four solid innings, which included two hits and five strikes.
Colorado came on board in fourth when Strider’s pitch struck Contreras and allowed Brendan Rodgers to score from third.
Before the game, several Brave players were taking near-grounders from assistant coach Ron Washington. It showed that the bravehearts made many sensational plays in the field.
The largest shortstop was replaced by Dansby Swanson with bases loaded in two outs and third. Ryan McMahon sent a hard grounder that was off Swanson. He knocked her over, picked it up and threw McMahon out first to end the threat.
McMahon slammed his helmet in desperation.
instructor room
Braves: LHP Tyler Matzek (swollen shoulder) has started his throwing progress. “So far everything has been really good,” said manager Brian Snitker. “I mean, we won’t know until he gets up there and starts loosening it.” … Eddie Rosario (blurred vision, swollen right retina) is tumbling into the cage.
Bryant Update
Rockies outfielder Kris Bryant has been recovering from a back problem that has put him on the injured list for the second time. He’s tossing medicine-balls, playing catches, and running some to show off his swing. Rockies manager Bud Black said there was no timetable for his return.
“He’s feeling more confident,” Black said. “He’s feeling strong.”
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The Braves will throw Charlie Morton (3-3, 5.47) from the right to end the four-match series on Sunday. The Rockies would go with right Ryan Feltner (1-1, 3.71), who last secured his first major league win.
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