DENVER – If any teams with trade interest in Braves pitcher Derek Lowe checked him out Monday night against Colorado, they surely were impressed for six innings.
Freddie Freeman and Eric Hinske homered in the third inning and the Braves built a 7-1 lead through six, then held on for a 7-4 win to open a four-game series against the Rockies at Coors Field.
It was the 13th win in 17 games for the Braves, who closed to within 2-1/2 games of first-place Philadelphia in the National League East. The Phillies lost 6-1 to the Chicago Cubs on Monday.
Hot-hitting Freeman must look like an MVP candidate to the Rockies, and not just a potential Rookie of the Year. The 21-year-old first baseman had three hits and three RBIs Monday to make him 10-for-19 with a stunning five homers and 10 RBIs in five games against Colorado -- all in the past 15 days.
“I guess it’s just one of those stretches," said Freeman, whose two-run homer o straightaway center field sailed an estimated 442 feet. "I feel good. Everything’s connected. I'm just going up the middle."
The Braves won all of those games against the Rockies, including a four-game sweep at Turner Field.
Lowe was charged with eight hits and four runs in 6-1/3 innings and collected his third win in four starts. Three of the hits against him were in the seventh inning and the last two runs scored after he left with the bases loaded.
Eric O'Flaherty gave up a sacrifice fly and bloop RBI single in the seventh inning, before Jonny Venters pitched a hitless eighth and Craig Kimbrel had three strikeouts in the ninth and converted his majors-leading 29th save.
“I thought it was one of the best outings he’s had," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said of Lowe. "He gave up, what, [eight] hits? I think only one hard one. There in the seventh inning, couple of balls that just found space in the outfield. But he got us deep in the ballgame and gave us a great opportunity."
It was only the third time in his past 13 starts that Lowe (6-7) lasted past six innings, and he did it on a night when the first-pitch temperature was 92 degrees, unusually high for Denver.
“Playing in Atlanta, you can’t go any place that’s going to be hotter than Atlanta," he said. "I think it’s an advantage, because it can’t be hot enough for us. We’re used to it.”
Neither did recent trade rumors seem to faze Lowe. He said Sunday, and again after Monday's game, that he wouldn't let it bother him.
“I said earlier, it’s something you have no control over. You can actually take it as a compliment," he said. "I mean, how many 38-year-old pitchers are out there on the market that people want? How many of us are out there? But I’ve always had confidence in myself, especially in the second half."
Lowe, who has earned a reputation for pitching well under pressure, improved his career record to 77-48 after the All-Star break. He's 86-88 before the break.
“I don’t think anyone thought I’d be able to pitch like I did last September," said Lowe, who was 5-0 with a 1.17 ERA in his last five regular-season starts in 2010. "In ’04, I had a [5.42] ERA for the season and was able to pitch well in the playoffs [for Boston]. So I’ve always felt like, as the year goes on, especially toward the end, that I’ll figure it out, and this year won’t be any different.”
It’s uncertain if the Braves will get any offers from teams willing to pay enough of the approximate $20 million that Lowe is owed for the remainder of this season and next to make a deal worth the Braves’ while. Especially since Lowe has more pennant-race and playoff experience than their pitchers combined.
His performance in September won't be forgotten by the Braves.
“He was a big reason that we got to the postseason," catcher Brian McCann said Monday. "He carried us right in there, and every game he pitched [in the division series against San Francisco], we should have won the game. We ran up against some guys that were hot.”
Before Monday, Lowe had gone 2-4 with a 5.00 ERA in his past 12 starts, and had a 5.67 ERA and .307 opponents’ average in his last six.
But against the Rockies, he didn’t give up many hard-hit balls all night.
The Braves roughed up right-hander Jason Hammel (5-9) for five runs (three earned) and eight hits in five innings.
They got their first two runs in the second when Lowe hit a bases-loaded, two-out grounder to third baseman Ty Wigginton, and first baseman Todd Helton lost Wigginton’s throw in the sun. The ball sailed past Helton and the Braves had a 2-0 lead.
Lowe had a single in the sixth inning to make him 5-for-14 with three doubles and three RBIs in his past six starts in which he’s batted, including at least one hit in five of those games.
The Braves added to it quickly in the third, when Freeman hit a two-run homer with one out and Hinske added a towering solo homer with two out. Both came on first pitches.
Hinske also walked and doubled against Hammel, making him 6-for-8 in his career against the Rockies pitcher. His history against Hammel was the reason Hinske got the start in left field.
Freeman continues to impress in his first full season. He’s hit .316 in his past 49 games, and has nine homers and 28 RBIs in his past 31 games.
“He’s swinging a hot bat right now," Gonzalez said of the rookie, who's batting .278 with 14 homers and 50 RBIs, three fewer than team RBI leader McCann. "Hope that continues.
"Both of those guys, McCann and him, are right where you want them to be in the middle of the lineup right now. And it doesn’t matter if it’s lefties, righties, they hit both.”
