For a second night in a row, the Colorado Rockies built a big lead only to see it disappear and result in a loss. The Atlanta Braves defeated the Rockies, 13-9, in a rain-delayed Saturday night contest.
The Rockies opened up the game with a 6-0 lead on the strength of a Michael Cuddyer grand slam and a Carlos Gonzalez two-run double. But then in the top of the third inning, the Braves slowly chipped away at the Rockies' lead. First it was a run scored as a result of a Carlos Gonzalez failed catch in left field. In the fifth inning, Chipper Jones doubled in a run and then scored on a Brian McCann single, making it a 6-3 Rockies lead. Rockies starter Jamie Moyer was doing just enough to keep the Braves at bay.
Colorado's Wilin Rosario answered back in the bottom of the fifth inning with a two-run home run, his third long ball of the season. Those were the last runs Mike Minor allowed in the game as he left after five innings and eight runs allowed.
And then the sixth inning happened. Moyer allowed back-to-back home runs to Matt Diaz and Jason Heyward to start the inning. He walked Tyler Pastornicky and then left the game for Esmil Rogers -- which turned into a disaster. A walk and a single loaded the bases. Chipper Jones struck again with a two-run single. After a wild pitch advanced the runners, Freddie Freeman grounded out but plated a run to tie the game at 8-8.
But Rogers wasn't done after that inning. He came back in the seventh and loaded the bases. Rex Brothers came in to fix the mess, but he walked Michael Bourn, forcing in the go-ahead run. Chipper Jones picked up two more RBI on an RBI single up the middle during the next at-bat. A Freeman sacrifice fly made it a 12-8 lead for the Braves.
Wilin Rosario answered back in the bottom half of the inning with his second home run of the game and his fourth this season, but that was all the team received that inning. The game then went into a rain delay, but when the game came back Todd Helton hit into an inning-ending double play with two men on. The Braves added another run in the top of the ninth inning as a result of Tyler Colvin's misplay in center field.
Livan Hernandez closed out the game for the Braves and picked up his first career save.
The Rockies (12-14, 8-9 home) are out to avoid the sweep with a Sunday afternoon game against the Braves. Juan Nicasio and Brandon Beachy are the scheduled starters.
For more on these teams, visit Rockies blog Purple Row and Braves blog Talking Chop. Head over to Baseball Nation and MLB Daily Dish for more news and notes around the majors.