The Sports Xchange
Aug 14, 2017
DENVER -- Chad Bettis made a dazzling return Monday night, pitching seven scoreless innings for the Colorado Rockies in his 2017 debut and his comeback from cancer.
Bettis was not involved in the decision, but his storybook start paved the way for Colorado's 3-0 win over the Atlanta Braves.
The Rockies (66-52) scored their runs in the eighth inning, the first on a single by Gerardo Parra and the final two on a single by Carlos Gonzalez.
Charlie Blackmon led off the inning against former Rockies reliever Rex Brothers (2-3) with his major-league-leading 14th triple. After DJ LeMahieu was intentionally walked, Parra grounded a ball that the drawn-in Dansby Swanson was unable to backhand as Blackmon scored.
Jason Motte relieved Brothers and walked Mark Reynolds to load the bases for Gonzalez, who singled home two runs on an 0-2 pitch.
Mike Dunn (5-1) worked the eighth, and Greg Holland pitched the ninth to pick up his 35th save in 38 chances. With runners on first and second in the ninth, Holland got Ozzie Albies to hit a soft liner to end the game.
Bettis was diagnosed with testicular cancer and underwent surgery in late November. In March, Bettis learned the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes, forcing him to undergo nine weeks of chemotherapy.
Bettis allowed six hits with no walks and two strikeouts, recording 13 outs on ground balls. He threw 90 pitches (63 strikes) and held the Braves hitless in seven at-bats with runners in scoring position.
The last two such at-bats came in the seventh after Kurt Suzuki led off with a double for the Braves (52-64) and was sacrificed to third. Bettis then got Albies and Swanson to fly out, and he received a standing ovation as he walked to the dugout.
Atlanta starter Julio Teheran, who took the mound 0-4 with a 7.00 ERA in his past five games, gave up four singles in seven scoreless innings. He walked three and struck out eight.
Teheran tied his season high by throwing 110 pitches (74 strikes) and extended his scoreless streak against the Rockies to 18 innings. In four starts at Coors Field, Teheran has not allowed a home run in 24 1/3 innings.
NOTES: Before the game and in the seventh inning, the Rockies paid tribute on their video board to Don Baylor, who managed the team in its first six seasons and died Aug. 8 at age 68. ... Colorado RHP Chad Bettis was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque to start against the Braves, and RHP Carlos Estevez was optioned to Albuquerque. ... Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado pinch-hit in the seventh inning and fouled out. He was hit on the left wrist with a pitch Sunday but hit off a tee and took dry swings before the game to test the wrist. ... Braves OF Matt Kemp (right hamstring) did sprints and running exercises before the game and is scheduled to do so again Wednesday and play Friday if all goes well. ... Because of the spacious left field at Coors Field, Danny Santana and Lane Adams will man the position in this series rather than Matt Adams, a first baseman who has been playing left field in Kemp's absence.