DENVER — Pressed into duty on Tuesday after a two-game stretch in the minors, Braves pitcher AJ Smith-Shawver made his case to stick in the Braves’ rotation.
In his first career start at Coors Field, the 22-year-old didn’t let the altitude, or the Rockies’ batting order, faze him. Smith-Shawver pitched his finest performance of the season — majors or minors — with four hits allowed across 5 and 1/3 innings.
“Just attacking the zone, just staying ahead of hitters,” Smith-Shawver said of his approach. “When you put yourself in good counts, it puts you in good situations. That’s what I felt I executed today.”
The Braves (14-15) took full advantage of Smith-Shawver’s performance, outhitting their hosts 14-5. The 8-2 win over the Rockies (4-25) also sealed the Braves’ fourth consecutive series victory and pulled them within a game of .500.
After starting the season with seven consecutive losses, the Braves are the closest they’ve been to an even record since their season-opening series against San Diego in March.
“We’re always coming in (with) the sweep as a goal,” first baseman Matt Olson said. “The .500 number is, honestly, is wherever. We want to win as many games as possible. Hopefully, here pretty soon, we’ll be on the positive side of that and not look back.”
Like Monday’s starter, Bryce Elder, Smith-Shawver surrendered a massive home run in the early innings, a solo shot by Michael Toglia in the second inning that reached the second deck of the right-field bleachers. Smith-Shawver improved his command in the following innings, effectively utilizing his fastball and splitter to baffle the Rockies hitters and keeping Colorado off the basepaths.
“My splitter was not listening to what I wanted it to do, but it was still getting swing-and-misses today,” Smith-Shawver said. “I was throwing some slider-splitters that I haven’t seen before, but if it works, it works.”
The Braves’ defense contributed to Smith-Shawver’s effort with a few highlights of its own, including a laser across the diamond from third baseman Austin Riley to Olson and a diving snag by left fielder Alex Verdugo. The Braves’ bullpen also ensured the Rockies would not strike again.
Manager Brian Snitker called to the bullpen during the bottom of the sixth inning after a ball deflected off Smith-Shawver’s arm, but the ovation from the visiting Braves fans reflected the boost the young righty’s strong start delivered.
After a rocky three-start stretch with the Braves to open the season and a two-start stint in Triple-A Gwinnett, Smith-Shawver proved to be up to the challenge of the spot start in the Mile High City. He tied a season-low with two earned runs and only allowed five Colorado batters to get on base, with one walk surrendered. Smith-Shawver exited the game with the Braves firmly in control, 7-1.
“He threw a lot of strikes, obviously, and moved the ball around,” Snitker said. “He was a little bit hard to hit at. He was mixing his pitches and moving it around pretty good.”
Smith-Shawver didn’t need much of a margin, though. The Braves’ hot-hitting lineup drove at least six runs across the plate for the fourth time in their past five games and never let the Rockies encroach on the Braves’ lead.
Olson recorded three hits in his first three at-bats, and center fielder Michael Harris II gave the Braves the lead in the second inning with a two-RBI double, his second of the series. In the fourth inning, the Braves converted a bases-loaded opportunity into three runs, stretching their lead into a comfortable 5-1 advantage. The Braves pounded Rockies starter Germán Márquez for 11 hits and seven earned runs, until Colorado’s bullpen took over in the sixth inning.
“We’re not necessarily just hitting homers to produce runs, (we’re) kind of moving the line a little bit,” Olson said. “This park gets a lot of publicity about the ball carrying, but I actually think it’s more of a hit park. … Everybody is kind of contributing and keeping the line moving.”
With a series win secured, the Braves will aim to earn the sweep and a .500 season record on Wednesday at 3:10 p.m. ET. Chris Sale will take the mound against Colorado’s Chase Dollander in the finale.
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