The Colorado Rockies rallied to take Game 2 of a three-game series with the Atlanta Braves on Saturday. The Rockies can now complete the sweep on Sunday afternoon.
After jumping out to an early lead, Jon Gray struggled on the mound for the Rockies and Atlanta was able to take control of the game. The Braves’ control would not last, though. The Rockies rallied in the seventh, scoring two runs – before throwing five more runs on the board in the top of the ninth inning. By the end of the rally, the Rockies led 9-5, a score which would hold.
Here are the takeaways from Saturday night.
Jon Gray has command issues in poor outing
Despite giving up a pair of early solo shots, Gray was relatively in control through the first four innings. That all changed in the fifth inning, though. Atlanta exploded for three runs on four hits, and led by three by the end of the inning (5-2).
Sluggers start slow, but come up clutch
The top of the lineup struggled to get much of anything going at the plate for most of the game, and it was a big reason the Rockies had to battle from behind in the later innings. Heading into the ninth inning, hitters one-four were a combined 3-of-16 at the plate.
Despite the slow start, the Rockies’ sluggers came up big when the game was on the line. After Ian Desmond and Drew Butera each reached base on balls, Charlie Blackmon doubled. The timely extra-base hit allowed David Dahl to score, after starting the inning with a double. Desmond scored during the sequence as well and Butera reached third base.
One batter later, Trevor Story launched a 429-foot home run for good measure, completing Colorado’s valiant comeback.
Rockies never say die
After blowing the early lead and taking a three-run deficit into the sixth inning, it would have been easy for the Rockies to lick their wounds and move onto Game 3. Instead, Colorado continued to battle throughout – scoring two runs on three hits in the seventh – and ultimately throwing five more runs on the board to win in the ninth.
The Rockies (13-14) and Braves (12-14) will conclude the three-game series on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 11:20 a.m. MT.