DENVER – If the past two games at Coors Field weren't the absolute midseason nadir for Atlanta's offense, then it could be a long summer for the Braves and their fans.
The Braves managed just four hits in a 10-3 loss Thursday that gave them a four-game series split against the skidding Rockies, and it’s worth noting they were shut out on two hits through seven innings by previously winless starter Jhoulys Chacin.
What had been an ugly day for the Braves turned downright nasty in the eighth inning when catcher Gerald Laird had to be helped off the field after being hit in his facemask and right jaw by Corey Dickerson’s bat on his follow through of his swing. Reliever David Carpenter was then ejected after plunking Dickerson in the leg with the next pitch.
Laird was only shaken up and didn’t have any broken bones or cuts. He took concussion tests administered at the ballpark and was cleared to fly home with the team.
Rockies manager Walt Weiss, a former Braves shortstop, was ejected after coming out of the dugout and shouting at Carpenter. He was angry that Braves pitcher Julio Teheran had also hit Jeff Rutledge in the head with a pitch Wednesday.
Rockies reliever Nick Masset and bench coach Tom Runnels were also ejected in the ninth inning after Masset hit Braves catcher Evan Gattis in the back of his left arm with a pitch. Gattis dropped his bat and trotted to first base as if nothing happened.
The sound and fury of the late innings overshadowed what had been largely a dismally quiet afternoon for Braves hitters, who were shut down for most of two games against a Rockies team that had been 1-11 with a 7.17 ERA in its past 12 games before Wednesday.
The last three games of the series were a microcosm of a wildly inconsistent and frequently dysfunctional Braves offense, while also serving as a reminder that a pitching staff that was otherworldly during the Braves’ 17-7 start couldn’t be expected to maintain its early season pace, and hasn’t.
Ervin Santana (5-3) was charged with six runs and seven hits (including two homers) in 6 1/3 innings, falling to 1-3 in his past six starts, and Braves reliever Jordan Walden had his second troubling performance in as many appearances since returning from the disabled list Tuesday after missing more than a month with a strained hamstring.
For complete version of this story with quotes from both teams about the ejections and accusations made, please go to MyAJC.com or use this link.
