After a string of one-run losses, the Atlanta Braves scored early and often in a blowout 9-2 win over the Colorado Rockies Sunday afternoon at Coors Field.
It didn’t take long for the Braves’ offense to get rolling as Ozzie Albies jumped on the first pitch of the game from Ryan Feltner and drove it out for a solo home run. It was Albies third homer in as many games and his 26th of the season.
Play ball!@ozzie | #ForTheA pic.twitter.com/gfi2FCGNbe
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 5, 2021
Atlanta blew the game open in the third. Morton led the inning off with a single and then advanced to third on a single by Jorge Soler. After a walk to Freddie Freeman, Austin Riley lifted a sacrifice fly to right that scored Morton to make it 2-0.
That would bring Adam Duvall to the plate who jumped on a hanging 2-2 curveball and drove it out to center for a three-run home run. That was Duvall’s second homer of the series and No. 31 on the season.
.@aduvall123's birthday was yesterday but the party is still going #ForTheA pic.twitter.com/vP2xnSUKeW
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 5, 2021
Atlanta wasn’t finished as Travis d’Arnaud followed with a solo shot to right center to extend the lead to 6-0.
2⃣ @SUBWAY | #ForTheA pic.twitter.com/Nk1gJU0F1n
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 5, 2021
Morton was in control from the early going. He allowed a one out single to Raimel Tapia in the first. Tapia advanced all the way to third on an errant pick off throw by Morton but was left stranded as Trevor Story lined out to Soler for the final out.
Morton would retire eight straight hitters before Tapia tripled over the head of Duvall in center to lead off the fourth inning. Brendan Rodgers followed with a ground out that scored Tapia to make it 6-1.
The Braves would add some insurance runs in the seventh against Rockies rookie right-hander Julian Fernandez. Soler hit a two-out double and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. He would score on a single by Freddie Freeman to make it 7-1. Austin Riley would follow with a monstrous two-run shot to left that extended the lead to 9-1.
️ !@austinriley1308 | #ForTheA pic.twitter.com/1VZBJQZods
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 5, 2021
Morton retired seven straight before issuing a leadoff walk to Story in the seventh. He would move to second on a wild pitch, advance to third on a ground out and come home on a sacrifice fly by Ryan McMahon to cut the lead to 9-2.
Morton would exit after the seventh having allowed two hits, two walks and two runs over seven innings. He struck out four while throwing 89 pitches.
Richard Rodriguez and Edgar Santana recorded the final six outs to seal the win.
The Braves wrap up their seven-game road trip with a 2-5 record but salvage a series split with the Rockies. Four of Atlanta’s losses on the trip were by one run. With the win, the Braves maintain a two game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East standings.
Atlanta will enjoy an off day Monday before they begin a nine-game home stand with a three-game series against the Washington Nationals.