Braves defeat Rockies 4-0 in Denver
Braves use arms, bats, defense to top Rockies
DENVER — The surprising Atlanta Braves surged through the first week of the season behind their bats. Now they’re getting some nice starting pitching, too.
Sean Newcomb lasted into the seventh inning, Nick Markakis and Dansby Swanson hit back-to-back home runs, and the Braves beat the Colorado Rockies 4-0 Sunday to win their third straight series of 2018.
“Every day it’s someone new that’s contributing,” Newcomb said.
It was his turn in Denver. Newcomb (1-1) allowed three hits in the first inning before retiring the next 16 batters to help the Braves take two of three in Colorado’s home-opening series. The lefthander followed strong starts from Brandon McCarthy and Anibal Sanchez, tying his career high with nine strikeouts while not issuing a walk.
“He was locating the fastball, and he had a devastating changeup, and he mixed in his curveball,” Colorado manager Bud Black said. “So when you’re throwing 93, 94 miles per hour, and you come from a high-arm slot at 6-foot-5, he’s got a great angle.
“The changeup is coming in there at 85, 86 miles per hour, with some action to it — it’s tough to solve. And we just didn’t do it today.”
Newcomb left after allowing consecutive hits to Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story to begin the seventh. Shane Carle, Sam Freeman and Arodys Vizcaino pitched in relief to preserve the shutout.
Newcomb became the third starting pitcher to toss at least six scoreless innings with no
walks and at least nine strikeouts at Coors Field. Jon Gray and Hall of Famer Randy Johnson are the only other two to accomplish the feat.
Kyle Freeland (0-2) allowed three runs, stuck out five and walked two in six innings for the Rockies. He had one out in the sixth before giving up the homers to Markakis and Swanson that made it 3-0.
An inning earlier, Ozzie Albies had an RBI ground-rule double off Freeland. In the seventh, Albies homered off Chris Rusin to put Atlanta up by the final margin.
Albies, who had nine doubles, five triples and six homers as a rookie last season, showed again he provides more power than his 5-foot-9, 165-pound frame would have one believe.
“I would probably say he and (Houston Astros second baseman Jose) Altuve are probably pound-for-pound, might be, the two strongest guys in the major leagues,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. “He’s not tall, but he’s strong, big.”
The Braves have scored 62 runs through their first nine games this season. Colorado, meanwhile, scored only six
runs in this series and was shut out at home for the first time since May 27, 2017, against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Colorado fill-in center fielder Mike Tauchman did his best to help out Freeland in the sixth, jumping into the wall as he tried to pull back the shot by Markakis. The crash, however, knocked Tauchman on his back and catapulted his glove over the wall.
There was some momentary confusion afterward, and the gate in center field had to be opened to return Tauchman’s glove.
“I didn’t know what happened,” Markakis said. “I didn’t know if he caught it or what happened. I looked at the umpire and I saw him signaling, so I knew it was good.”
Former Calhoun High School standout Charlie Culberson contributed a defensive highlight for the Braves. The Rockies had a runner in scoring position in the eighth, but the third baseman helped thwart the threat with a catch that took him over the rolledup tarp and into the stands.
“I’m not worried about it,” Rockies second baseman D.J. LeMahieu said. “We’ll get on a roll.”