The Colorado Rockies blew out the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday night by a final score of 17-2. All eight starting position players for the Rockies reached base and six had multi-hit games as the home team scored in each of the first five innings. DJ LeMahieu had four hits, Trevor Story had three hits, homered twice, and drove in six, and Gerardo Parra and Mark Reynolds each had three-hit, four RBI games of their own.
The Rockies got on the board early in the bottom of the first. LeMahieu singled, Nolan Arenado doubled, then the pair came around to score on Parra’s groundout and Reynolds’ RBI single to make it 2-0. In the second, the home team scored three more. LeMahieu drove in the first run after a review correctly ruled that his second single of the night scored Jonathan Lucroy, then Parra singled home Charlie Blackmon and LeMahieu after Arenado’s walk to make it 5-0. Lucroy scored on another close play at the plate in the third inning after Story’s single to give the Rockies a commanding 6-0 lead.
It was a rough night at the office for Braves’ starter Mike Foltynewicz. After allowing two more hits in the fourth, the 25-year-old righty was pulled in favor of Luke Jackson, who allowed a three-run homer to Reynolds on the first pitch he saw. A walk and another home run—this time a two-run shot off the bat of Story—made it 11-0 and the rout was really on. When it was all said and done, Foltynewicz allowed eight runs (all earned) on nine hits in 3 1⁄3 innings. He also walked three and struck out five.
Colorado finished up their scoring for the evening on doubles from Arenado and Parra in the fifth and and Story’s second homer of the night in the seventh. The 17-run outburst was their second highest of the season behind only their 18-run game on July 19 against the San Diego Padres. Their 15-run margin of victory was the largest of the year.
Amid all of the scoring, Rockies’ starter Jon Gray put together a strong start. Through six innings, he allowed just two runs on five hits. He walked a pair and struck out six in route to picking up his fifth win of the season, if you’re into that sort of thing.
After Gray, the Rockies got three innings of scoreless relief out of Adam Ottavino and Tyler Chatwood to finish up the game. They allowed a pair of hits, didn’t walk anyone, and struck out six.
The win for the Rockies improves their record to 67-53 on the season while Atlanta falls to 53-65. Thanks to a loss by the Arizona Diamondbacks, the victory also put the Rockies back in sole possession of the first Wild Card spot. They’ll try to take three out of four in the finale of this series tomorrow afternoon. Jeff Hoffman of the Rockies will oppose Lucas Sims of the Braves. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 pm mountain time.