The Atlanta Braves fell into a tie for the last NL wild card spot after losing 3-1 to the Colorado Rockies on Thursday night. Michael Toglia and Ezequiel Tovar each hit solo home runs for the Rockies.
Atlanta and New York are now both at 76-64 with 22 games remaining, trailing the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies by eight games.
“Frustrating when we can’t score, especially when we get a good start,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “Just frustrating that we couldn’t get anything going.”
Austin Gomber (5-10) gave up one run and five hits in eight innings, tying his season high. He struck out six and didn’t walk any batters.
“He had a good fastball, in and out, up and down,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “A good hook, good change, good slider. He pitched really well. Whether that’s the best he’s pitched all year, it’s right up there with it.”
Tyler Kinley pitched a perfect ninth inning for his ninth save in 10 opportunities, helping Colorado avoid a three-game sweep and ending an eight-game losing streak at Truist Park.
Atlanta, which had won 16 of its previous 19 games against the Rockies, didn’t have a runner reach second base after the second inning. Their starting pitchers haven’t given up more than three runs in 24 straight games, but the offense has struggled.
Colorado retired 24 consecutive batters over the last eight innings. Marcell Ozuna was the only Atlanta player to reach base in that time with a single in the sixth inning, and Matt Olson followed with a double-play grounder to end the inning.
“We can’t get a toehold to keep anything going,” Snitker said. “The starting pitching we are getting is just so good. Bullpen guys have been really good.”
López (8-5) allowed both solo homers and five hits in six innings, striking out 11 and walking none.
“I’m trying to keep the team in striking distance to win the game, but I didn’t fulfill the objective, because the objective is to win the game,” he said through an interpreter. “As nice as it is to strike out guys and go deep into the game, it’s ruined if you don’t win the game.”
