National League Preview from The Sports Network
Sunday, May 6th
(All times Eastern)
Atlanta Braves (18-11) at Colorado Rockies (12-15), 3:10 p.m.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Atlanta - Brandon Beachy (2-1, 1.38)
Colorado - Juan Nicasio (2-0, 4.40)
(Sports Network) - The Atlanta Braves take aim at their first road sweep of
the Colorado Rockies in nine seasons this afternoon when the two teams wrap up
what has been an exciting series at Coors Field.
After Atlanta won Friday's opener in 11 innings, it rallied from an early six-
run deficit on Saturday and went ahead by scoring four times in the seventh
inning to capture a 13-9 win.
Chipper Jones went 3-for-6 with five RBI, Matt Diaz and Jason Heyward hit solo
home runs, Michael Bourn added an RBI and scored three times, while Freddie
Freeman had two RBI and Brian McCann had two hits and an RBI for the Braves,
who came back to win after being down by five the previous night.
Cristhian Martinez (2-0) tossed a scoreless sixth to earn the win, while Esmil
Rodgers (0-2) was tagged for five runs on three hits and three walks in 1 1/3
innings.
"In this ballpark you never know. You don't give in," Gonzalez said of the
comeback.
Michael Cuddyer clubbed a grand slam, Wilin Rosario added a solo homer and a
two-run shot and Carlos Gonzalez finished 4-for-4 with a two-run double for
the Rockies. who have dropped three of their last four games.
"It's hard when you go down like this after scoring six runs early in the
game ... everything just blew up," Gonzalez said.
Hoping to deliver the Braves their first sweep in Colorado since Aug. 22-24,
2003 will be righty Brandon Beachy, who is 2-1 with a 1.38 ERA. Beachy did not
get a decision on Tuesday against Philadelphia, but pitched well, allowing
just two runs and five hits in seven innings of a 4-2 loss. He's also pitched
into the seventh inning in four consecutive starts
Beachy lost his only other start to the Rockies and was hit hard, yielding six
runs and nine hits in 4 2/3 frames.
Colorado, meanwhile, will turn to righty Juan Nicasio, who is 2-0 with a 4.40
ERA. Nicasio beat the Dodgers on Monday, holding them to a pair of runs and
nine hits in six innings.
"He needs to give us innings, keep us in the games, do the things he's been
doing since he's come back from his injury," manager Jim Tracy said. "That's
all we're asking any of them to do."
Nicasio is 0-1 in two starts versus the Braves with a 5.79 ERA.
Atlanta was 6-2 against the Rockies last season. Since the start of the 2000
season, the Braves are 31-12 against the Rockies at home, but are just .500 at
Coors Field, 21-21.
05/06 10:31:08 ET

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