Braves Beat Rockies 7-1, Wrap Up Series Today
DENVER (AP) - Dansby Swanson and Ronald Acuna Jr. homered, leading
Max Fried and the Braves to the victory.
Fried (2-0) allowed an unearned run and five hits in six innings.
Colorado has dropped its first five home games. It has lost nine of
10 overall since winning the first two games of the season.
Rockies right-hander German Marquez (1-1) was charged with five
runs and seven hits in five innings.
Kevin Gausman is in his seventh big-league season, and his 162nd
career appearance will represent a career first.
The 28-year-old right-hander will finally get to pitch at Coors
Field -- the ballpark he frequently visited while growing up --
when the Atlanta Braves look to complete a three-game series sweep
against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday in Denver.
Gausman grew up in the Denver suburb of Aurora and often dreamed of
toeing the rubber in front of major league hitters at Coors Field.
That image becomes reality on Wednesday when the Braves look to
post their fourth straight win and eighth in nine games.
"It's crazy, because I feel like I've been in the big leagues for a
good bit," Gausman told reporters. "And I haven't been here. This
is one of two ballparks -- here and Busch Stadium (in St. Louis) --
that I haven't played at. So that's kind of weird, being that I
grew up 30 minutes from here."
Gausman has a high level of familiarity with the ballpark due to
all the times he attended games. He is well aware of the
hitter-friendly atmosphere and knows the best places to park.
What will be different is this: He wants to see the Rockies lose.
"You make good pitches, you're going to get guys out," Gausman said
of pitching at Coors Field. "I don't think you can try to be too
perfect out there. I think when you start trying to be too fine,
that's when you get in trouble."
Gausman has seen plenty of offensive exploits in the ballpark. He
couldn't help but reminisce about his early childhood visits.
"I remember watching Andres Galarraga and Dante Bichette, the Blake
Street Bombers," Gausman said. "Those teams were really fun to
watch. And later, I got to play with Ubaldo Jimenez for four years
(with the Baltimore Orioles). I used to watch him all the time in
high school, so that was pretty cool."
Gausman will be looking to follow up a superb outing as he pitched
seven innings of two-hit shutout ball while beating the Miami
Marlins last Friday. He struck out seven and walked just two.
Colorado will be looking to change its fortunes. The 7-1 loss to
the Braves on Tuesday was the Rockies' fifth straight defeat and
ninth in 10 games.
The Rockies will aim to halt their skid behind right-hander Jeff
Hoffman, who is being recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque to make
the start.
Hoffman will take the rotation spot of left-hander Tyler Anderson,
who went on the injured list earlier this week with a knee injury.
Hoffman is 6-9 with a 5.88 ERA in 37 appearances (23 starts) for
Colorado over the past three seasons.
He was roughed up in his one start at Albuquerque this season as he
allowed four runs and six hits over 3 2/3 innings. He walked four
and hit two batters while striking out three in a loss to Salt Lake.
"The big thing that I like to do when those kind of outings happen
is not put too much into it, either way, and assess the outing and
really come out of it knowing I'm the same guy -- not really living
or dying on a good or a bad outing," Hoffman told reporters. "I
went out after that, threw a really good side (session), and I feel
really good."
Hoffman will have to contend with Dansby Swanson, who hit a
three-run homer Tuesday, and Ronald Acuna Jr., who hit a solo shot.
Both Swanson and Acuna have four homers this year.
"He's having really good at-bats right now and playing really,
really well," Braves manager Brian Snitker said of Swanson, who is
batting .324.
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04-10-2019 00:21:07