During his pregame media musing before the series opener in Denver, Braves manager Brian Snitker mentioned how no lead is safe at Coors Field. Much is made of the high altitude, which has perpetuated a hitter’s paradise and pitcher’s nightmare.
The thing about altitude: It doesn’t favor one side or the other.
The Braves experienced both ends of the spectrum Monday. They rushed out to a 7-0 lead, saw it dwindle to 7-6 in the span of two outs, then hung on for an 8-6 win. It was the team’s sixth win in its past seven games.
“It was a typical Coors Field game, inning,” manager Brian Snitker said. “I didn’t feel good at 7-0, I know that. We’re just lucky that the bullpen did a great job coming in. Those are the kind of games that could end up being 15-12.”
Ronald Acuna blasted a ball into the second deck of right field, pushing the Braves to an almost-immediate 2-0 lead in the first. They doubled their advantage on Nick Markakis’ bases-loaded single in the third.
It was Acuna’s second hit in his past 18 at-bats (his other was also a homer). He’s been hammering the ball without desired results – a baseball reality that can correct itself in a swift manner, as it did Monday.
“The important thing is that the team’s winning,” Acuna, who finished with two hits and three runs scored, said through team interpreter Franco Garcia. “Baseball is a process. There are highs and lows. Right now, if things aren’t hitting, it doesn’t matter. The important thing is the team is winning.”
Acuna and Markakis collected one-out singles in the fifth. Dansby Swanson, who continues to pound the ball, tripled to the deepest part of the center outfield to score both and make it a six-run game. Swanson scored on a wild pitch to make it 7-0.
That cushion quickly evaporated. Colorado figured out Julio Teheran, who had a no-hitter entering the sixth. The Rockies scored six times, aided by Mark Reynolds’ two-run homer and Trevor Story’s three-run shot.
The inning, as Snitker put it, spiraled out of control. Reynolds’ laser to left was the first home run Teheran had allowed at Coors Field. Teheran, who entered the night with a 2.96 ERA in four starts at Colorado, had to turn the final four innings over to the bullpen.
The righty was relieved by Luke Jackson, Jonny Venters, Chad Sobotka and A.J. Minter, who combined to hold the Rockies scoreless. Jackson, a punching bag on social media, provided his fourth consecutive scoreless outing and has rebounded nicely since a tough inning in Philadelphia.
Sobotka produced his fourth scoreless appearance in five tries. Minter, who’d allowed runs in both his games since returning from the injured list, collected his first save of the season.
Every Braves pitcher benefited from the usual stout defense. Josh Donaldson’s glovework has been outstanding. Ozzie Albies snagged a dart, as did Freddie Freeman for the first out in the sixth. Swanson made a sensational diving catch in foul ground for the second out of the ninth.
“The defense was unbelievable today,” Snitker said. “The infield defense was amazing. That’s becoming the norm.”
Max Fried starts for the Braves on Tuesday, hoping to replicate an impressive six innings against the Cubs. He’ll oppose Colorado’s German Marquez.
