The Atlanta Braves had plenty of opportunities but came away empty handed in a 3-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies in a rain soaked game Wednesday night at Truist Park.
The Braves got on the board first in the second inning as Austin Riley singled to lead off the frame. After a couple of strikeouts, Dansby Swanson singled to right to put runners at first and second. Eddie Rosario, who was wearing No. 21 honoring Roberto Clemente, followed with a single to center that scored Riley to make it 1-0.
.@EddieRosario09, wearing number 21 in honor of #ClementeDay, drives in the first run of the game ❤️#ForTheA pic.twitter.com/fRUuaKPMbO
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 16, 2021
Ynoa was dominant early on as he kept the Rockies in check over the first four innings. . He allowed a leadoff single to Trevor Story in the second but left him stranded thanks to a pair of strikeouts and a groundout. After a perfect third, Ynoa allowed a lead off single to Brandon Rodgers in the fourth but again left him stranded with a fly out and two more strikeouts.
Things unraveled for him in the fifth though as Sam Hilliard and Colton Welker led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Hilliard moved over to third on a fly out by Dom Nunez and then scored a squeeze bunt by Senzatela that tied the game. Ynoa then walked Garrett Hampson to load the bases. He struck out Brendan Rodgers for the second out but then walked Charlie Blackmon to force in the go-ahead run.
That would end of Ynoa’s evening as Jacob Webb would come on to face Story. Webb worked the count to 2-2 and then struck out Story swinging with a nice changeup leaving the bases loaded. It was a tough ending to Ynoa’s night who pitched well before things got away from him in the fifth. He allowed four hits and two runs. He struck out eight and walked two while throwing 92 pitches over 4 2/3 innings.
Atlanta came right back in the home half of the fifth as Rosario struck again. Senzatela jumped ahead 0-2 in the count but then tried to bury a slider down and in that Rosario drove into the seats in right.
Number 21, @EddieRosario09, is having himself quite a night!#ClementeDay | #ForTheA pic.twitter.com/nRjUHXtkqi
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 16, 2021
The Braves had an opportunity in the seventh as they loaded the bases thanks to three walks, but Jorge Soler popped out to Rodgers at second base to end the threat.
Luke Jackson struck out the side in the eighth and Atlanta threatened, but were once again unable to cash in. Freddie Freeman singled and then moved up to second on a one-out single by Adam Duvall. However, d’Arnaud and Swanson both struck out to end the inning.
After Will Smith tossed a perfect ninth, the Braves once again squandered a scoring opportunity. Ozzie Albies reached on a two-out single and then moved up to second on a walk by Soler. Freeman followed with a rocket to center that Hampson ran down at the track for the final out to send the game to extra innings.
Colorado retook the lead in the 10th against A.J. Minter. Colton Welker began the inning as the designated runner at second and moved over to third on a ground out by Dom Nunez. Raimel Tapia then singled through the drawn in infield to make it 3-2. Minter came back and picked off Tapia for the second out and then retired Hampson on a fly out.
Freeman began the 10th at second base for Atlanta. Robert Stephenson began the inning by striking out Riley but then hit Duvall with a 3-2 pitch to put runners at first and second. d’Arnaud worked the count to 3-2 but then swung through an elevated fastball for the second out. Stephenson then got Swanson to fly out to Blackmon in shallow right to end the game.
The Braves had plenty of chances but were unable to cash them in. They were 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left 12 men on in the game. With the loss, Atlanta’s NL East lead is cut to 3.5 games over the Phillies.