The Atlanta Braves continued their impressive performance at home, securing a 5-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies. This victory not only marked a series win against the Rockies, but also strengthened Atlanta's position in the division race, ensuring that the New York Mets would not gain ground in the MLB.
Kelenic's Home Run and Olson's Double Propel Braves to Victory
The Braves' offensive assault began with two outs in the bottom of the first inning. Rockies pitcher Bradley Blalock had initially retired two batters before Marcell Ozuna connected on a double.
Matt Olson followed with another double, bringing Ozuna home and giving the Braves a 1-0 lead. Travis d'Arnaud then picked up a base on balls, putting two runners on base with two outs.
Jarred Kelenic made a significant impact by connecting on a three-run home run against Blalock, sending the ball into the Chop House and extending Atlanta's lead to 4-0. The home run was Kelenic's first in nearly a month, making it even more important for the player and the team.
The Rockies responded in the second inning when Sam Hilliard was able to score on a line drive triple. Braves outfielder Jorge Soler struggled with the play, allowing Hilliard to score. Charlie Blackmon then connected on a single, bringing Hilliard to the plate and cutting the Braves' lead to 4-2.
Despite allowing two runs in the second inning, Braves starter Charlie Morton steadied himself and pitched five innings total, giving up five hits, walking three batters and striking out eight.
Morton's performance continued the trend of Braves starters allowing three runs or fewer, contributing to the team's consistent dominance on the mound. Blalock, who also pitched five innings for the Rockies, allowed four runs, all in the first inning, which set the tone for the game.
A win on #LudaNight!#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/IG1RVSLHXp
- Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 5, 2024
Bravos Add Runs in the Sixth Inning
The Braves added an insurance run in the sixth inning. Michael Harris II connected on a double against Jake Bird, who had come on in relief of Blalock. Jorge Soler followed with a single up the middle, driving in Harris and extending the Braves' lead to 5-2. The Braves added two more runners on in the inning, prompting the Rockies to bring in reliever Luis Peralta, who managed to avoid further damage.
The Braves bullpen took control of the game starting in the seventh inning, silencing the Rockies offense. Dylan Lee pitched a perfect seventh inning, retiring batters in order. Joe Jimenez continued the trend in the eighth inning, also retiring the Rockies in order, with a highlight play from Luke Williams contributing to the bottom of the inning.
Raisel Iglesias came in for the save in the ninth inning, retiring two of the first three batters, with Michael Toglia flying out and Nolan Jones striking out. Despite walking Sam Hilliard, Iglesias struck out the next batter to end the game, securing his 30th save of the season.
The win marked the 76th of the season for Atlanta, strengthening their position in the standings and keeping them on track for the postseason. The win helped maintain their lead over the New York Mets, who also won their game against the Boston Red Sox.
Looking ahead, the Braves are in position for a possible series sweep with Reynaldo Lopez scheduled to start the next game against the Rockies at 7:20 pm ET. Atlanta remains focused on continuing their winning streak to solidify their playoff aspirations.
