Field Level Media
Sep 2, 2021
Jorge Soler homered and finished with two hits, Adam Duvall also went deep, and the Atlanta Braves beat the Colorado Rockies 6-5 in Denver on Thursday night.
Austin Riley added two hits for the Braves (71-62), who snapped a three-game skid and maintained their two-game lead in the National League East over the second-place Philadelphia Phillies.
Jacob Webb (2-2) pitched two scoreless innings for the win, and Will Smith worked the ninth for his 30th save.
Charlie Blackmon hit a grand slam and also singled, and Brendan Rodgers and Trevor Story had two hits apiece for the Rockies (61-73). By dropping the opener of a four-game series, Colorado fell for the third time in four games.
Down 5-3, the Braves rallied in the fifth inning. Freddie Freeman led off with a double to right-center field and moved to third on a single by Riley. Dansby Swanson hit a sacrifice fly to left to bring home Freeman.
Duvall followed with his 30th home run of the season, a two-run shot to left, off Yency Almonte (1-3).
The Braves took the lead in the first inning when Soler hit a solo homer, his 22nd long ball of the season, off Colorado starter Chi Chi Gonzalez.
Atlanta tacked on a couple more in the third. Eddie Rosario walked, Soler singled and both moved up a base on Freeman's groundout. Riley then doubled to left field to drive in both runners and give the Braves a 3-0 lead.
Colorado responded in the bottom of the inning against Atlanta starter Touki Toussaint. Diaz was hit by a pitch and Gonzalez reached on Toussaint's errant throw to second on a bunt attempt. Connor Joe singled to drive in Diaz, and Rodgers singled to load the bases.
Blackmon followed with a drive into the Rockies' bullpen to make it 5-3. It was his 11th home run of the season and the fourth grand slam of his career. It was also the 10th grand slam of the season by Colorado.
Toussaint left after giving up five runs (four earned) on six hits in three innings.
Atlanta chased Gonzalez in the fourth inning after he walked two batters with two outs. He allowed three runs on five hits in 3 2/3 innings, with four walks and one strikeout.
--Field Level Media