The Colorado Rockies didn't have a big lead to cough up once again, but they did lose on Sunday to the Atlanta Braves, 7-2. The Braves, though, did build a 6-0 lead by the middle of the seventh inning before the Rockies finally solved the problem of Brandon Beachy on the mound.
Beachy walked Carlos Gonzalez in the first inning and then gave up a Ramon Hernandez single in the second inning before retiring in a row the next 14 batters. Troy Tulowitzki finally cracked through Beachy's armor and singled to start the seventh inning. Tulowitzki eventually made his way to third on a ground out and a wild pitch before Michael Cuddyer singled him in for the team's first run of the game.
Beachy left the game with one out in the seventh inning and the bases loaded. He saw Cristhian Martinez allow a run to score on fielder's choice Tyler Colvin hit into, putting his day's line at 6.1 innings pitched, two runs allowed, three walks and five strikeouts.
Juan Nicasio allowed six runs over five-plus innings, pitching into the sixth inning without recording an out. A Freddie Freeman three-run home run on the third inning dealt the big blow to the Rockies while Tyler Pastornicky, Dan Uggla and Juan Francisco drove in the next three runs on a ground out and two singles. Uggla struck again during the eighth inning with a home run to left field.
On the wrong end of a three-game sweep, the Rockies (12-15, 8-10 home) begin an eight-game road trip on Monday with a visit to Petco Park to face the San Diego Padres.
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.