Colorado outscored 26- 5 in three games
It’s shaping up to be the biggest mismatch in Atlanta since William Tecumseh Sherman burned down the city in 1864.
The Rockies fell to the Braves again Saturday afternoon at Truist Park, losing 10- 2 in a game in which another Colorado starter was torched. In the first three games of the series, the Braves have outscored Colorado 26- 5 and outhomered them 8- 3.
Right- hander Connor Seabold, who had provided a slice of promise for the Rockies’ beleaguered rotation by posting a 2.08 ERA over his last three starts, was hammered for nine runs on nine hits in three innings Saturday. Four of those runs came via home runs: a grand slam by Matt Olson in the first, a solo blast by Ozzie Albies in the second, a tworun homer by Eddie Rosario in the fourth, immediately followed by a solo shot by Orlando Arcia.
In simple terms, the Braves, who lead the majors with 122 homers, made Seabold pay for his mistakes. The Rockies, by comparison, have hit 59 homers, ranking 27th.
“They got comfy and they started taking good swings, especially on the fastball,” Seabold told MLB. com. “Anytime I make a mistake that hit it hard. Anytime I’d made a pitch, it seemed like they still hit it hard. And so like I said, like once a lineup like that gets comfy, once they can sit on a pitch, it’s an uphill battle.”
Manager Bud Black, who’s endured more than his share of bad starts this season, told reporters: “Just one of those days where, you know, Connor didn’t make enough good pitches, and they took advantage of all the mistakes.”
The Braves won their fifth consecutive game and moved a season- high 19 games over .500.
In an effort to save bullpen arms, Black called on second baseman Harold Castro to pitch the eighth. Castro gave up two hits but no runs, getting out of the inning with a groundball double play by Travis d’arnaud.
Atlanta right- hander Bryce Elder, utilizing his bowling ball sinker, gave up one run on four hits over six innings. The one run came from first baseman Mike Moustakas’ twoout homer in the fifth. Elder induced 11 groundball outs and didn’t issue a single walk.
Colorado, losers of four straight, and 1- 9 in its last 10 games vs. Atlanta, will attempt to avoid the fourgame sweep on Sunday afternoon.
LAMET DFA’D>> Prior to Saturday’s game, the Rockies designated Dinelson Lamet for assignment after the right- hander allowed eight runs and three two- run homers in the Rockies’ 8- 1 loss to the Braves. Lamet’s ERA rose to 11.57 but Black told reporters that hopes Lamet will clear waivers and get assigned to TripleA Albuquerque.
“We were hoping that moving him into the rotation would sort of get him on track back to his initial role as a pitcher with the Padres as a starting pitcher,” Black said. “He had a big year in 2020. We were hoping he could find that form again as a starter. That’s not to say it can’t happen, but these four starts were tough.”
Right- hander Gavin Hollowell was recalled from Albuquerque and added to Colorado’s bullpen.