Over the course of any season in professional sports, particularly in baseball, it is difficult to weigh a certain win or loss with any more importance than those of it’s everyday counterparts. Still there are games that stand out. That are easily remembered and today’s loss to the Rockies is one that is hard to forget. At this point the Braves could have dodged a bullet. The Phillies also lost their third in a row and the Braves lead is still 2.5 games. However, if the Braves go on to lose the division or the wildcard by a game then this was a loss that is going to stick in everyone’s mind.
The Braves got off to an unbelievable start. Scoring ten times through three innings and taking a 10-1 advantage into the fourth with Jair Jurrjens on the mound. The Braves battered Rockies starter Esmil Rogers for seven runs and eight hits in just an inning and two thirds. His replacement Manny Corpas didn’t fair much better, allowing four hits and three runs including Omar Infante‘s seventh home run of the season. The for whatever reason, everything changed.
The momentum that the Braves had build vanished in an instant. A sacrifice fly in the fourth made the score 10-2. Then a fifth inning Dexter Fowler triple made the score 10-5 after an Alex Gonzalez throwing error allowed Fowler to score.  Jair Jurrjens couldn’t escape the sixth as a Seth Smith RBI double made the score 10-6.
Peter Moylan came on and wasn’t effective issuing a walk and a two RBI double to Rockies’ pinch hitter Ryan Spilborghs which closed the gap to 10-8. Eric O’Flaherty came on to escape the sixth with no further damage. Jonny Venters came on and pitched a scoreless seventh but things went bad for him in the eighth. After a Seth Smith strikeout to lead off the inning, Venters walked Chris Iannetta. Melvin Mora then followed with a single. After a ground out and another walk, Carlos Gonzalez stepped to the plate and promptly tied the game with a single that scored both Iannetta and Young Jr.
Venters was then replaced by Kyle Farnsworth who allowed RBI singles to Troy Tulowitzki and Todd Helton which gave the Rockies the advantage 12-10. A monstrous comeback for the home team and a colossal collapse by the Braves.
As always with this year’s Braves team it seems fortune has smiled on them. The Astros were able to beat the Phillies yet again further protecting the lead in the National League Eastern Division. The Phillies have to be kicking themselves as the three game sweep by the Rockies presented the Phils with a chance to overtake the Braves. Alas with no damage done the Braves simply need to put this loss and this whole series behind them and move on.
Move on they shall as they head back to the friendly confines of Turner Field tomorrow where they are a league best 44-17 at home. Tommy Hanson will take the mound and try to put an end to the Braves current three game losing streak.
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