The Atlanta Braves opened up yet another early season series in Denver versus the Rockies Monday night, and the Braves held on to win 8-6.
But it got a lot closer late in the game than it looked like it would. Let’s recap it and see how the Atlanta Braves stayed hot and won its sixth out of its last seven games.
At first glance, the Atlanta Braves looked to have a tough test Monday night as they were facing Kyle Freeland, who many people I think still don’t know enough about, despite him finishing fourth in Cy Young voting last season.
However, the Braves were up to the task and Freeland threw one of his worst games in quite some time.
Ronald Acuna got his first taste of Coors Field Monday night and in his first at-bat, he rocketed a ball over the right-center wall and scored himself and Josh Donaldson who had taken a walk two batters ahead.
As Julio Teheran took the mound, we were all reminded that he pitched one of his best games ever a few seasons ago in frigid temperatures in Denver, and early on he looked like he would do much of the same as he allowed no hits to the Rockies through the first four innings.
Before we go much further, let’s throw out more love to Dansby Swanson.
Right now, even when he makes an out, it is on rockets.
He only had 1 hit last night but he also chipped in with a sac fly.
The Atlanta Braves scored more in the third as Nick Markakis knocked in two with an opposite-field single.
In the fifth, Swanson’s aforementioned hit was a 2 RBI triple, and he then scored on a wild pitch making it 7-0 Braves.
Then things got tight.
Julio was zooming through the Rockies but it came to a screeching halt in the fifth. Mark Reynolds hit a bomb to make it 7-3 and then Trevor Story hit a 3-run home run to make it 7-6 and the Rockies were right back in it.
For all the hate the Braves bullpen has gotten so far this year (including myself) it’s only fair we show them love when they perform well, and they did just that Monday evening in a tough environment.
Since his opening day debacle, Luke Jackson has pitched 4.2 innings and hasn’t allowed a run on only 4 hits and zero walks.
He along with Chad Sobotka and Jonny Venters handled the sixth, seventh, and eighth just fine, and A.J. Minter was able to close the game out in the ninth and save the game for the Atlanta Braves.
So, the Rockies weren’t able to slow down the Braves in the opening game as the Braves won 8-6.
Next. Best Rotation for 2019. dark
The same teams play again Tuesday evening as the Braves will send out Max Fried and the Rockies will send out German Marquez, who is another quietly good pitcher out in the mountains. Hopefully the Braves can contain them again and stay hot.