Behind a lead-off homer and needed offensive breakout, the Braves defeated the Rockies 9-2 Sunday in Colorado to salvage a four-game series split.
Here are five takeaways from Sunday:
1. Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies homered on the first major-league pitch from Rockies starter Ryan Feltner. For the pitcher, it was the definition of a welcome-to-the-big-leagues moment. For Albies, it was more of the same. The All-Star has homered in three consecutive games since returning from a two-game absence due to fouling a ball off his left knee.
It was Albies’ 26th home run. He and his fellow infielders are already the second such group in MLB history in which every member has clubbed at least 25 homers (joining the 2008 Marlins). They’re vying to become the first infield to have each member reach the 30-homer mark.
2. The Braves pulled away with a five-run third, highlighted by outfielder Adam Duvall’s three-run blast. Duvall’s 94 RBIs lead the National League, one ahead of his former teammate and Marlins slugger Jesus Aguilar’s 93. Duvall’s 31 home runs are two shy of tying his career high.
“He’s been huge,” catcher Travis d’Arnaud said of Duvall. “Obviously the numbers speak for themselves, but the person he’s been in the clubhouse has been good as well. He makes everyone feel good. He makes everyone want to work harder. He’s just a great person to be around. When great things happen to great people, it just makes you love them even more.”
D’Arnaud followed Duvall with a solo shot, his second home run in as many days.
3. Third baseman Austin Riley capped the Braves’ performance with a two-run shot in the seventh, giving him three RBIs Sunday. Riley continues to force his way into MVP talks, though he’s seemingly on the peripherals of that conversation nationally. He’s hitting .305 with 29 homers and 87 RBIs while playing in all but one of his first-place team’s games.
“He should absolutely be in the (MVP) conversation with what he’s doing in the second half,” Snitker said. “Look at the year (he’s having), the (.916) OPS, just the average, RBIs, everything. The way he’s playing defense, too, is phenomenal.”
4. While Feltner made his major-league debut, Charlie Morton made his 286th start. Morton, fresh off a solid showing against the Dodgers, held the Rockies to two runs over seven innings. The bullpen had been taxed lately, so Morton’s performance came at a good time. Richard Rodriguez and Edgar Santana pitched the final two innings, but the rest of the bullpen will have two days of rest with Monday’s off-day.
5. The Braves finished their road trip 2-5. They were swept in Los Angeles and split in Colorado. While certainly not what the Braves had hoped, they at least avoided a spiral following the Dodgers’ sweep.
“Today’s game was huge, that was a really good win,” Snitker said. “This wasn’t a great road trip, probably could’ve been worse. Could’ve been a lot better obviously, played a lot of one-run games (five straight one-run contests before Sunday), some tight games on this thing. We were a hit or pitch away in a lot of these games on the road trip where it could’ve been really good.
“This game doesn’t work that way. It’s always going to punch you in the gut, kick you in the teeth. You just have to keep fighting back and that’s what we’re going to do.”
Stat to know
21 of 31 (Duvall leads the NL in RBIs because he homers at the most opportune times. Twenty-one of his 31 blasts have come with runners on base.)
Quotable
“I don’t know how he wouldn’t be in the (MVP) conversation.” – Morton on Riley
Up next
The Braves are off Monday before opening a nine-game homestand against the Nationals, Marlins and Rockies on Tuesday. Max Fried will start Tuesday with Huascar Ynoa pitching Thursday. The team hasn’t announced a starter for Wednesday.
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