Atlanta started off their seven game road trip with a win, getting a solid pitching performance from Derek Lowe and offense from Freddie Freeman and Eric Hinske en route to a 7-4 victory over Colorado.
The Braves got their offense going in the second inning, as Freeman led off with a single. Dan Uggla followed with a single of his own to put runners on first and second with no outs. Hinske drew a walk to load the bases for Alex Gonzalez.
Gonzalez hit a line drive to second baseman Mark Ellis, who caught it and doubled up Hinske at first for a double play. Rockies starter Jason Hammel intentionally walked Nate McLouth to get to Lowe. Lowe hit a soft ground ball to third that should have ended the inning, but Ty Wiggington's lollipop throw got over the head of Todd Helton, allowing Freeman and Uggla to score. That gave Atlanta an early 2-0 lead.
The Braves kept the offense going in third inning against Hammel. Brian McCann singled with one out to bring up Freeman, who crushed a homer to dead center to give Atlanta a 4-0 lead. Two batters later, Eric Hinske clubbed a home run into the second deck in right field to up the margin to 5-0 in favor of Atlanta.
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The Rockies plated their first run in the bottom of the third, as Carlos Gonzalez grounded into a fielders choice to reach first. Gonzalez stole second and scored on a single to center field from Helton to cut the lead to 5-1.
Eric Hinske doubled with two outs in the top of the fifth inning and scored on a single from Alex Gonzalez, making it a 6-1 game. Hammel left after the fifth inning, ending with a line of 5 IP, 6 R (4 earned), 3 BB, 1 K.
Atlanta scored their last run in the sixth inning, as Freddie Freeman grounded into a fielders choice with the bases loaded, allowing Lowe to score. Lowe led off the inning with a single.
Colorado finally got to Lowe in the seventh inning, as they blooped him to death. Chris Iannetta singled to start the frame but was out at second on a ground ball from Dexter Fowler. Fowler reached on the play, and advanced to second when Lowe walked Ryan Spillborghs. Carlos Gonzalez blooped a single in front of Nate McLouth that scored Fowler to make it a 7-2 game. Ellis followed with another blooper to load the bases.
Eric O' Flaherty replaced Lowe at this point. A sacrifice fly from Helton and a Troy Tulowitzki single scored Spillborghs and Gonzalez to cut the Braves lead to 7-4. Seth Smith flew out to end the threat.
Lowe finished with a line of 6.1 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 2K.
Jonny Venters pitched a scoreless eighth inning, and Craig Kimbrel worked around a walk by recording all three outs by strikeout to record his 29th save in the ninth.
Freddie Freeman finished with three hits for his 10th three hit game of the season, while McCann, Hinske, and Martin Prado all recorded two apiece.