Jarred Kelenic’s three-run homer highlighted a four-run first inning and sparked the Atlanta Braves to a 5-2 win over the visiting Colorado Rockies on Wednesday.
The Braves (76-63) have won the first two games of the three-game series and remain one-half game ahead of New York for the final National League wild-card spot. The Rockies (51-89) have lost five of their last six. The Braves lead the season series 3-2.
Kelenic entered the game in a lengthy slump; he was hitting just .178 since July 1. The homer, his 14th, landed high in the right field seats and equaled Kelenic’s career high. It was his first home run since Aug. 7.
Atlanta’s Charlie Morton (8-7) got the win. He pitched five innings and allowed two runs on five hits, three walks and matched his season high with eight strikeouts.
The Atlanta bullpen finished the job with four scoreless frames. Dylan Lee pitched the sixth, Pierce Johnson worked the seventh, Joe Jimenez pitched the eighth and Raisel Iglesias finished the ninth to earn his 30th save. Each reliever had two strikeouts in their inning of work.
Colorado starter Bradley Blalock (1-2) survived a rough four-run first inning before settling down and working five solid frames without giving up another run. Blalock allowed four hits, six walks and two strikeouts.
Blalock, who grew up in the metro Atlanta area as a Braves fan, got two quick outs in the first inning before Marcell Ozuna doubled. He scored on Matt Olson’s double and Kelenic added a three-run homer.
The Rockies, shut out in the first game of the series, scored twice in the second inning. Former Brave Sam Hilliard drove in a run with a triple and scored on Charlie Blackmon’s double.
The Braves upped the lead to 5-2 when a two-out rally produced a run in the sixth against reliever Jake Bird. Michael Harris II doubled and easily scored on Jorge Soler’s single to center field.
Atlanta’s Gio Urshela went 0-for-3 with a walk but saw his 11-game hitting streak end.
–Field Level Media
