Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
ATLANTA (AP) — The Colorado Rockies thought they missed their opportunity against Atlanta starter Shelby Miller. In the seventh inning, Miller gave them a second chance.
After wasting a bases-loaded, no-out situation in the second inning, the Rockies managed to score four runs in the seventh inning to erase a 3-0 deficit en route to a 6-3 victory over the Braves on Wednesday night.
"We missed a couple of opportunities early on and when that happens, you're always wondering if you're ever going to get another one for the rest of the game," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "Especially against a guy like Miller."
Brandon Barnes had three hits, including a two-run homer, and Jose Reyes had a two-run triple in the seventh that gave the Rockies the lead for good.
Simon Castro (1-0) picked up the win in relief for the Rockies, who won two out of three for their first series win at Turner Field since 2005.
Miller (5-11) dominated the Rockies in the middle of the game, retiring 14 straight at one point. But his winless streak extended to 18 when he could not shut down the Rockies in the decisive seventh.
"I'm thinking this is his game," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "I'm not bringing in anyone out of that bullpen. This guy hasn't won a game in a long time and we have to give him every opportunity to do it."
Miller gave up a double to Ben Paulsen, a single to Daniel Descalso and a double to Barnes that cut the deficit to 3-1. Charlie Blackmon then hit a two-out infield chopper to make the score 3-2 before Reyes launched a triple to right-center to score Barnes and Blackmon.
"That's what happens with this lineup," Barnes said. "We've got a pretty good lineup and when one guy gets going, he picks up the next guy and the next guy gets going. We feed off each other."
Barnes tacked on a two-run homer in the eighth off Edwin Jackson.
The Rockies' bullpen had their fourth consecutive game without allowing a run as John Axford earned his 18th save. He struck out Pedro Ciriaco with two on to end the game.
During his winless streak, Miller has an ERA of 3.24 and has given up one earned run or less eight times. He broke Nolan Ryan's record of longest winless streak by an All-Star, which was 13 starts.
Jonny Gomes and Adonis Garcia hit back-to-back home runs in the sixth inning off Rockies starter Yohan Flande to give the Braves a 3-0 lead. It was just the third back-to-back home runs this season for the Braves, who are last in the majors in homers.
The Braves got on the board on an RBI groundout by rookie Christian Bethancourt in the second inning that scored Gomes.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rockies: OF Carlos Gonzalez returned to the lineup after missing Tuesday's game with a sore knee. ... 3B Nelson Arenado was a healthy scratch.
UP NEXT
The Rockies will have a day off Thursday and open a three-game series at Pittsburgh on Friday. Rookie Jon Gray (0-0, 5.94) will start for the fifth time since being called up from Triple-A Albuquerque on Aug. 4. The Pirates will start Francisco Loriano (9-6, 3.23), who is 1-2 with a 5.48 ERA in four career starts against the Rockies.
The Braves will host the Yankees for a three-game series starting Friday. This is the Yankees' first visit since 2012 and the crowds are expected to be large at Turner Field. Braves rookie Williams Perez (4-4, 4.76) will face Masahiro Tanaka (9-6, 3.61) in the opener.
MAKING HISTORY
Rockies 2B D.J. LeMahieu, who makes his offseason home in Atlanta, batted cleanup for the first time this season Wednesday night. LeMahieu has hit in every spot in the lineup for the Rockies in 2015, the first time a Rockie has ever done so. He went 0 for 4 with a walk.
INTERESTING COMBO
Due to a defensive shift, Freddie Freeman grounded into a rare 6-5-3 double play in the first inning as SS Reyes was playing to the right side of second base and 3B Descalso made the pivot at second.
BOUNCING BACK
Garcia made three errors at third base during Tuesday's loss to the Rockies, but he rebounded Wednesday with three hits, including a home run, and no errors.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
