The Braves have dropped four of their last five games after Friday’s 4-3 loss in Colorado. They’re 1-4 on the current road trip with two contests remaining against the Rockies.
Here are five takeaways from Friday:
1. The game’s defining play was in the top of the eighth with the Braves trailing 4-3. Left fielder Eddie Rosario doubled to open the inning. An out later, with second baseman Ozzie Albies at the plate, Rosario tried to steal third. He was ruled out on a bang-bang play. The call was upheld following a review.
“It was a really close play, tough to see if I was safe or out,” Rosario said. “I was trying to help the team get that run. It was a tough play.”
He added in Spanish (via interpreter Franco Garcia): “I read the situation and just wanted to give Ozzie an opportunity to drive in a run there with one out.”
Rosario said he noticed Rockies reliever’s Jhoulys Chacin’s delivery indicated an off-speed pitch was coming. He credited Rockies catcher Dom Nunez and third baseman Ryan McMahon for making the play.
Manager Brian Snitker said he felt Rosario was safe, but “my vote doesn’t count.” He indicated he wasn’t enthused with Rosario’s bold decision to run in that situation.
“He thought he had a good jump, but it’s just hard to make outs on the bases in this ballpark,” Snitker said. “We have the top of the order up. That’s probably pushing the envelope a little too much. He saw something and thought he could get there.
“In retrospect, he was probably safe. I didn’t think the umpire had that great of a view of that play, which was no fault of his own. It was kind of a weird play. You just hate to make outs on the bases in this ballpark.”
It was difficult to gauge whether replay’s conclusion was correct, but the bottom line was that the play cost the Braves a runner in scoring position with only five outs remaining. They were left empty handed in the eighth and were retired on four pitches in the ninth.
2. After a two-game absence, Albies returned with a bang. He homered on the second pitch of the game, his 24th of the season. The All-Star second baseman missed the last two contests after fouling a pitch off his left knee Tuesday.
3. In his fourth start since returning from a broken hand, Braves starter Huascar Ynoa allowed four runs on five hits over 5-1/3 innings. He struck out five and walked one. It wasn’t his sharpest outing, but Snitker liked how the righty kept the Braves in the game despite lacking his A-grade assortment.
“He was good, he got out of whack (in the third) inning,” Snitker said, referencing the frame in which Ynoa surrendered two runs. “You look at him and sometimes he tries to reach back for more when he doesn’t really need to. He got out of whack but he kept the game manageable. Then he settled in.”
4. Only one Brave recorded multiple hits: third baseman Austin Riley, who went 2-for-4. His single in the sixth scored first baseman Freddie Freeman – who hustled to reach second base on his preceding hit – and tied the game at three.
5. The Braves should be encouraged by their bullpen’s performance at Coors Field, a place where relievers are usually eviscerated. All major-league relievers had a collective 5.17 ERA over 473-1/3 innings in Denver this season, but the Braves’ bullpen has pitched 8-1/3 scoreless frames.
Lefty A.J. Minter followed Ynoa and struck out two over 1-1/3 innings. Tyler Matzek pitched around a lead-off double for a scoreless eighth.
Stat to know
94 (Three Rockies pitchers collectively threw 94 pitches to defeat the Braves, including just four in the ninth.)
Quotable
“This kid has such unbelievable, great upside. Every time he goes out there, he’s going to learn something and get better.” – Snitker on Ynoa
Up next
The Braves’ series in Colorado continues Saturday when Ian Anderson (6-5, 3.36) faces Rockies ace German Marquez (11-10, 4.10).
