As the Atlanta Braves continue to forge ahead in their quest for a rebound season, the significance of every win grows more pronounced. With their latest series triumph over the Colorado Rockies, the Braves have notched their sixth win in the past seven games, inching ever closer to that elusive .500 mark. The 3-1 series victory showcased the team’s growing resilience and cohesion, as players like Ronald Acuña Jr. and Austin Riley once again asserted themselves as forces to be reckoned with on the field. With each successive series win, the Braves’ confidence appears to grow, and their prospects for a successful second half of the season seem to brighten with each passing day. In this recap of the Braves’ series win over the Rockies, we’ll examine the key takeaways and highlight the performances that drove Atlanta to victory.
Braves’ Momentum on the Rise
The Atlanta Braves entered this series with Colorado with a bit of confidence in their step and a wind behind their sails. After all, they had just gotten done toppling a tough Diamondbacks team for their first road series win of the season and were dealing with a Rockies squad that could end up going down as one of the worst teams to ever set foot on a big league diamond.
Braves’ Confidence Boost: Series Win Over Rockies
As rough as the Braves have had it to start this season, remember: It could always be worse — much worse, in fact. Anyways, the offense was swinging the bat well coming into this series and the pitching was also starting to come up big when needed. As such, it sure seemed feasible that the Braves could completely take of business and pick up a sweep while also reaching .500 for the first time since the moment before the umpire screamed out “Play Ball” on Opening Day back on March 27.
Offense and Pitching Coming Together
The stage was set and hopefully Atlanta would take advantage and avoid a disappointment in the Rocky Mountains.
Game 1: Braves 6, Rockies 3
The Braves fell behind 3-0 in the first inning of this one after Bryce Elder threw one of his trademark hangers that Hunter Goodman made no mistake with for a three-run homer. For long stretches of the 2024 season (and parts of this month as well), this would’ve been cause for alarm that Atlanta’s offense would be unable to muster up the four runs needed to turn the game around completely.
Fortunately, this offense appears to be in something resembling a groove, as they were able to chip away at the three-run deficit pretty quickly before eventually tying the game in the fourth after Nick Allen delivered a game-tying infield single. The fifth inning ended up being the big one for Atlanta, as a two-out, two-RBI double from Michael Harris II put the Braves ahead 5-3. Sean Murphy added on an RBI single in the sixth inning, Bryce Elder calmed down after the first inning and the bullpen locked down Colorado’s lineup in order to make sure that the game ended 6-3.
Game 2: Braves 8, Rockies 2
AJ Smith-Shawver was called upon to start this one and sure enough, he delivered another solid outing. When you consider that three of his four starts have come in San Diego against a talented Padres lineup, in Tampa in a stadium that has the same exact dimensions as Yankee Stadium and in this extremely hitter-friendly ballpark in Coors Field, the fact that he’s come away with only two runs allowed in each of those three starts is pretty impressive.
Shawver got into the sixth inning in this one and struck out five while only giving up four hits and a walk. It wasn’t dominant but it was exactly what the doctor ordered for a young pitcher trying to get a real foothold in MLB. While Smith-Shawver was busy dealing with the Rockies, the Braves picked up on Tuesday night where they left off on Monday night against Colorado.
Michael Harris II delivered a go-ahead two-RBI double in the second inning and then he restored Atlanta’s two-run lead with a productive out that made it 3-1 in the fourth inning. Shortly after that, Nick Allen brought in a pair as he floated in an opposite-field single that made it 5-1 Braves at that point and the inning eventually ended 6-1. Austin Riley added on a pair of RBIs in the sixth and eighth inning that eventually brought us to the final score of 8-2.
While the Braves did a great job of keeping the momentum going in the right direction at the plate, this game also served as a prime example of just how bad the Rockies are. A lot of sloppy baseball from Colorado definitely helped Atlanta’s cause in this one but you aren’t going to see any of us around here complaining about it!
Game 3: Rockies 2, Braves 1
Well, the good news about this one is that Chris Sale had what was quite clearly his best start of the season. Sale went seven innings and only gave up two runs while striking out five and walking just one. The Braves offense struggled to score runs, managing only one run on a solo home run by Austin Riley in the fifth inning.
The Rockies scored their two runs on a solo home run by Elehuris Montero in the fourth inning and an RBI single by Hunter Goodman in the seventh inning. The Braves had some opportunities to score, but ultimately came up short, falling 2-1.
Bryce Elder’s Resilience and Bullpen’s Lockdown
The Braves entered this series with Colorado with a bit of confidence in their step and a wind behind their sails. After all, they had just gotten done toppling a tough Diamondbacks team for their first road series win of the season and were dealing with a Rockies squad that could end up going down as one of the worst teams to ever set foot on a big league diamond.
Yes, the Rockies are already in danger of potentially joining the 2024 White Sox when it comes to baseball’s hall of incredibly awful teams. As rough as the Braves have had it to start this season, remember: It could always be worse — much worse, in fact. Anyways, the offense was swinging the bat well coming into this series and the pitching was also starting to come up big when needed.
As such, it sure seemed feasible that the Braves could completely take of business and pick up a sweep while also reaching .500 for the first time since the moment before the umpire screamed out “Play Ball” on Opening Day back on March 27.
Game 2: Braves 8, Rockies 2
AJ Smith-Shawver was called upon to start this one and sure enough, he delivered another solid outing. When you consider that three of his four starts have come in San Diego against a talented Padres lineup, in Tampa in a stadium that has the same exact dimensions as Yankee Stadium and in this extremely hitter-friendly ballpark in Coors Field, the fact that he’s come away with only two runs allowed in each of those three starts is pretty impressive.
Shawver got into the sixth inning in this one and struck out five while only giving up four hits and a walk. It wasn’t dominant but it was exactly what the doctor ordered for a young pitcher trying to get a real foothold in MLB.
While Smith-Shawver was busy dealing with the Rockies, the Braves picked up on Tuesday night where they left off on Monday night against Colorado. Michael Harris II delivered a go-ahead two-RBI double in the second inning and then he restored Atlanta’s two-run lead with a productive out that made it 3-1 in the fourth inning.
Shortly after that, Nick Allen brought in a pair as he floated in an opposite-field single that made it 5-1 Braves at that point and the inning eventually ended 6-1. Austin Riley added on a pair of RBIs in the sixth and eighth inning that eventually brought us to the final score of 8-2.
Sloppy Baseball from Rockies Helps Braves’ Cause
While the Braves did a great job of keeping the momentum going in the right direction at the plate, this game also served as a prime example of just how bad the Rockies are. A lot of sloppy baseball from Colorado definitely helped Atlanta’s cause in this one but you aren’t going to see any of us around here complaining about it!
Game 3: Rockies 2, Braves 1
Well, the good news about this one is that Chris Sale had what was quite clearly his best start of the season. Sale went seven innings and only gave up two runs while striking out seven and walking just one.
The Braves’ offense, however, was stalled by a strong outing from the Rockies. Atlanta could only muster up one run, which came courtesy of a sixth-inning RBI single from Michael Harris II.
The Braves’ bullpen did its best to try and tie the game in the late innings, but ultimately came up just short as the Rockies were able to shut the door and earn the series split.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Atlanta Braves’ recent series win over the Colorado Rockies marks a significant milestone in their pursuit of a .500 record. As outlined in our recap, the Braves’ ability to capitalize on timely hitting and effective starting pitching played a pivotal role in their success. The series was marked by outstanding performances from key players, including [insert player names], who consistently delivered in high-pressure situations. This trend of excellence has been a hallmark of the Braves’ season, and their continued success is a testament to the team’s depth and resilience.
The implications of this series win extend beyond the immediate outcome, as it reinforces the notion that the Braves are a force to be reckoned with in the National League. As the season continues to unfold, their proximity to .500 will undoubtedly become a focal point, and their ability to sustain this level of performance will be closely monitored. The Rockies, meanwhile, will look to regroup and reassess their strategy in the wake of this series loss. For the Braves, the message is clear: their hard work and dedication have put them in a prime position to make a meaningful push for a playoff spot.
As the Braves look to the future, one thing is certain: their determination to succeed will be tested at every turn. Will they be able to sustain this momentum and ultimately eclipse the .500 mark? The answer remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the Braves are a team on the rise, and their pursuit of excellence is far from over.