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Matt Olson hits two home runs and drives in six runs as the Braves end their six-game losing streak with an 11-8 win over the Rockies – The Journal


Matt Olson hits two home runs and drives in six runs as the Braves end their six-game losing streak with an 11-8 win over the Rockies – The Journal

Marcell Ozuna (left) of the Atlanta Braves congratulates Matt Olson (right) as he crosses home plate after hitting a two-run home run against Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Angel Chivilli in the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

DENVER (AP) — Matt Olson hit two home runs and a career-high six RBIs, Marcell Ozuna and Jorge Soler hit home runs and the Atlanta Braves ended a six-game losing streak with an 11-8 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday night.

Olson hit a two-run homer against Angel Chivilli (0-1) to break an 8-8 tie in the seventh inning, and Soler added a solo home run in the eighth inning to help the Braves avoid their longest losing streak in nearly eight years (August 13-20, 2016).

Sam Hilliard had a home run, two doubles and a career-high five RBIs for the Rockies, who have lost 10 of their last 11 games against the Braves at Coors Field.

Ozuna hit a home run for the third straight game and Olson had his second two-home run game in 10 games after hitting two against Milwaukee on July 31. Soler had three hits and three RBIs and has hit a home run in two consecutive games.

Brendan Rodgers and Brenton Doyle had two hits for Colorado and Ezequiel Tovar had a two-run double in the three-run sixth inning, tying the back-and-forth game at 8-8.

Former Colorado right-hander Pierce Johnson (5-4) pitched 1 1/3 innings to give Atlanta the win, striking out Kris Bryant in the bottom of the sixth inning when the lead runner was on second base.

Raisel Iglesias pitched the ninth inning for his 24th save in 26 chances.

Olson and Hilliard were the main contributors to the game’s early scoring. Olson hit a grand slam off Colorado starter Dakota Hudson to cap a five-run third for a 5-3 lead, one inning after Hilliard’s three-run homer off Atlanta starter Max Fried opened the scoring.

Hilliard scored two runs with a looping double to right center field that landed between three fielders, tying the game 5-5 in the third.

Ozuna’s home run and Soler’s two-run single gave Atlanta an 8-5 lead after six innings, but the Rockies tied it with Tovar’s two-run double and Doyle’s single.

Fried allowed seven hits and five runs (four earned) in five innings, with nine strikeouts and three walks in his second appearance after returning from the injured list. He shut down the last seven he faced, joining John Smoltz and Julio Teheran as the only Atlanta pitchers with 800 strikeouts in 160 games or fewer.

TRAINING ROOM

Braves: OF Ramon Laureano (heel) was replaced by a pinch hitter in the fourth inning. He appeared to have sustained the injury when he hit an infield single in the third inning. … OF Michael Harris II (left hamstring) was 3 for 4 with a home run in a rehab game for Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday. He is expected to return to the Braves on Wednesday when he is eligible to play.

Rockies: RHP Cal Quantrill (forearm soreness) was deferred. His next start was not scheduled. … OF Nolan Jones (back) was 2 for 4 with a home run and a double in his third rehab appearance for Triple-A Albuquerque on Saturday. … LHP Chasen Shreve was designated for assignment to create a roster spot for Hudson.

Next

Colorado’s LHP Kyle Freeland (3-5, 5.65 ERA) faces Atlanta’s RHP Spencer Schwellenbach (4-5, 4.04) in the series decider. Freeland, who was ruled out of his last start on Tuesday because of a blister on his left index finger, has made good starts in six of eight starts since returning from the injured list.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Matt Olson of the Atlanta Braves stands at the top of the first base line after hitting a two-run home run against Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Angel Chivilli in the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Atlanta Braves pitcher Raisel Iglesias gestures after taking out Elias Díaz of the Colorado Rockies for the last out of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Atlanta Braves pitcher Raisel Iglesias pitches against the Colorado Rockies in the ninth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Jorge Soler of the Atlanta Braves circles the bases after hitting a solo home run against Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Anthony Molina in the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Marcell Ozuna of the Atlanta Braves gestures after reaching second base following a double against Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Angel Chivilli in the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Atlanta Braves fans cheer as Atlanta Braves pitcher Raisel Iglesias strikes out Elias Diaz of the Colorado Rockies, ending a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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