Braves come up short in 4-2 loss to Rockies

Anibal Sanchez pitched well but the Atlanta Braves were unable to solve German Marquez in a 4-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies. The Braves suffer a four-game sweep and will now head out on a 7-game road trip.

The Braves once again grabbed an early lead as Freddie Freeman doubled off the top of the left centerfield wall for a double and scored two batters later on a single by Johan Camargo. That lead however wouldn’t last long as Trevor Story went down and got a low breaking ball from Sanchez and drove it out to left to lead off the second inning.

Colorado struck again in the third when DJ LeMahieu put the Rockies in front with a solo shot. David Dahl followed with a bloop double to left and came home on a soft single to center by Nolan Arenado.

Atlanta crept closer in the sixth as Freeman singled again and then moved up to second base on a wild pitch. Camargo came through again with a two-out single to center that scored Freeman to make it 3-2.

The Rockies came up with an insurance run in the ninth against Brad Brach. Gerardo Parra and Ryan McMahon hit a pair of one-out singles but Ender Inciarte threw out Parra at third for the second out of the inning. Brach was then called for a balk that moved McMahon to second and put him in scoring position. Pinch hitter Carlos Gonzalez then came through with a single to left that scored McMahon to make it 4-2.

Inciarte singled with one out in the ninth but Rockies’ closer Wade Davis struck out Charlie Culberson and Tyler Flowers to end the game.

Sanchez deserved a better fate after allowing five hits and three runs over 6 2/3 innings. He struck out eight and walked just two. Marquez was just a bit better allowing five hits and two runs over seven innings. He struck out five and walked just one.

The Braves wrap up their 11-game homestand going 6-5 and in disappointing fashion. They will look to get back on track on Monday when they open a three-game series in Pittsburgh.