The Colorado Rockies defeated the Atlanta Braves Saturday night in walk-off fashion at Coors Field, 3-2, to even a three-game weekend series at one game apiece. Tony Wolters drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning to deliver the victory.
Chad Bettis took the mound for the Rockies and delivered a quality one-run performance. After surrendering a leadoff double to Ender Inciarte start the ballgame, Bettis settled in nicely and kept Atlanta in check for a majority of his outing.
The Rockies got their first run of the evening in the bottom of the third inning via their 1-2-3 punch at the top of the lineup, Charlie Blackmon, DJ LeMahieu and Nolan Arenado. After Blackmon reached on a walk; LeMahieu advanced him with a single to right field to set the table for Arenado, who then punched home Blackmon with a RBI single to center.
The Rockies followed with another run in the bottom of the fourth inning as Trevor Story blasted a home run to left field to extend the Rockies’ lead to 2-0. The home run was Story’s second in as many games.
Bettis slipped a bit in the sixth inning, issuing a leadoff walk to Lane Adams. Ozzie Albies then went on to lay down a sacrifice bunt to advance Adams to second. Freddie Freeman then ripped a ball to deep left field to score Adams and get Atlanta on the board.
After allowing the run, Bettis was pulled from the game, but departed with a solid line of 5.2 innings pitched, four hits, one earned run, two walks and three strikouts.
Mike Dunn was able to clean up the sixth inning, which set up the Rockies’ new-look bullpen with an opportunity to seal the deal.
Bryan Shaw, one of the Rockies’ key offseason signings, worked a clean seventh inning, as did Jake McGee in the eighth to set up the game for new closer Wade Davis.
Davis logged the first out in the ninth inning before running into trouble by walking Kurt Suzuki. From there, Dansby Swanson poked a single into left field, putting runners on the corners. Ryan Flaherty then singled home a run to center field to tie the game at two and introduce Davis to life at Coors Field.
The Rockies failed to score in the bottom half of the ninth, pushing the game to extra innings.
The Braves nearly scored a run in the 10th inning as they had a runner on third base with two outs when Nick Markakis lined a rocket to shortstop, but Trevor Story made an acrobatic leap to catch the ball in midair.
Carlos Gonzalez ripped a double down the left field line with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning to put a runner on for the Rockies. After an Ian Desmond strikeout, the Braves intentionally walked Gerardo Parra to get to Story, who worked a full count before being walked, as well. The bases were then loaded with two outs for Wolters who watched four straight pitches land outside of the strike zone to force a runner home and seal the 3-2 victory for the Rockies.
NEXT UP: The Rockies and Braves wrap up their series Sunday afternoon at Coors Field. Kyle Freeland will get the start for the Rockies opposite Sean Newcomb. First pitch is set for 1:10 p.m. MDT.
