The Colorado Rockies lost to the Atlanta Braves Sunday afternoon at Coors Field, 4-0. The Braves took the series, 2-1, and held the Rockies to just six runs total in the set.
The Rockies’ offense, which featured DJ LeMahieu hitting leadoff and catcher Chris Iannetta batting second on his 35th birthday, was in a funk all afternoon. Regulars Charlie Blackmon and Carlos Gonzalez both did not start.
Sunday matinee with a quirky lineup.
LeMahieu hits leadoff, Iannetta hitting second. Valaika playing first and Tauchman is starting in CF with Blackmon dealing with a back issue #Rockies pic.twitter.com/FRivFo4vtf
— Aniello Piro (@MediaByAP) April 8, 2018
Colorado recorded three hits in the first inning, the same total they had over the final eight. After allowing three hits in the first inning, Braves starting pitcher Sean Newcomb (1-1, 4.35 ERA) retired 16 consecutive Rockies through the sixth inning. Newcomb struck out nine and walked none, allowing five hits in 6.0-plus innings.
Rockies starting pitcher Kyle Freeland (0-2, 5.56 ERA) had a quality outing, logging 6.0 innings and allowing seven hits, three runs, and two walks while striking out five. Freeland was sharp through his first four innings of work, but cracked in the fifth inning when he issued a two-out walk to Ender Inciarte who would then score on a ground-rule double from Ozzie Albies to put the Braves ahead.
The Braves added two runs in the following inning via solo home runs from Nick Markakis and Dansby Swanson to end Freeland’s afternoon and spoil what was a great start through four innings.
Chris Rusin relived Freeland in the seventh inning and allowed a solo home run to Albies tp cap the scoring in the game.
The Rockies had a golden opportunity to get on the board in the seventh inning as Nolan Arendao and Trevor Story both reached base to leadoff the inning and chase Newcomb from the game. However, the Rockies were unable to capitalize as Ian Desmond grounded into a double-play and Gerardo Para flew out to left field.
Colorado had another chance to put a run on the board in the eighth inning after Pat Valikia started the inning with a double, but Mike Tauchman, Gonzalez — who pinch hit for Rusin — and LeMahieu all failed to drive him home.
The Rockies went down in order in the ninth inning to end what was a dismal afternoon offensively.
With the loss, Colorado falls to 5-5 on the year, 1-2 at Coors Field. Atlanta moves to 6-3, 2-1 on the road.
NEXT UP: The Rockies welcome the San Diego Padres to Coors Field for the first time this season to play a three-game series starting Monday. Jon Gray (1-1, 2.45) will start for the Rockies and oppose Clayton Richard (0-1, 4.50) with first pitch scheduled for 6:40 p.m. MDT.