Coors Field remains the home of the Braves.

They took several walks in the ballpark on Friday night and rallied from an early 6-0 deficit to stun the Rockies, 8-6. The Braves have won 12 of their last 15 games at Coors.

The Braves’ go-ahead run was a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the ninth by Michael Harris II off Colorado reliever Juan Mejia. Jonah Heim drew a walk from Mejia to lead off the inning.

Atlanta capitalized on three Rockies walks in the eighth inning — two by Zach Agnos, one by Jaden Hill — to score four runs and tie the game, 6-6. The walks set the table for Mauricio Dubon’s three-run triple into the right-field corner off Hill. Austin Riley’s sacrifice fly to right tied the game.

Friday marked the second straight home game that the Rockies’ bullpen gave up a lead of six or more runs. Relievers gave up eight runs to the Padres on April 23. But Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer didn’t buy the theory that Agnos, Hill and Mejia were “pitching too fine” because they were scared of giving up hits at Coors late in the game.

“Our guys haven’t done that much this year, so I’m going to say no to that,” Schaeffer said. “I can see that (given) the history of this ballpark, but this is the big leagues, and you can’t be scared.

“I don’t think that Agnos, or Jaden Hill, or Juan were scared tonight. They just didn’t throw the strikes that we needed.”

The Rockies, back home after an encouraging 4-2 road trip, were in control of the game early behind another strong start from veteran left-hander Jose Quintana and another big night from Mickey Moniak, who extended his hitting streak to 15 games.  During the streak, Moniak is slashing .368/.429/.684 with four home runs and nine RBIs.

The Rockies appeared to have the Braves on the ropes. But the Rockies managed just one hit after the third inning, and their failure to expand the lead cost them — as it so often does at Coors Field. Right-hander Grant Holmes started throwing effective cutters, and the Rockies failed to adjust. Then three Atlanta relievers blanked Colorado for the final four innings.

“We have to keep going there,” Schaeffer said. “We know where we play, and we know that anything can happen here. We need to continue with the offense.”

The Braves have a major league-best 23-10 record and notched their 12th comeback in. But the Rockies (14-19) blitzed them with a five-run, five-hit first inning. Edouard Julien drew a leadoff walk from Holmes, and then the Rockies banged out five straight hits: a single by Moniak; a double by Hunter Goodman; an RBI single by TJ Rumfield; an RBI safety-squeeze bunt single by Tyler Freemand, and a single to left by Troy Johnston. Toss in an RBI groundout by Willi Castro and a throwing error by first baseman Matt Olson, and the Rockies were cruising.

Moniak’s leadoff 439-foot homer to the second deck in right gave Colorado a 6-0 lead in the second inning. It was Moniak’s 10th homer, tying him with Goodman for the team lead.

Quintana had no trouble taming the potent, but free-swinging Braves lineup. He pitched a season-high six innings, allowing one run on five hits. He struck out three, walked none, and generated 12 swings and misses. His off-speed pitches kept the Braves guessing, and they didn’t make a lot of hard contact.

“Being ahead in counts was the key for me,” Quintana said.  “I have been working really hard to attack the zone better and I’ve made a few adjustments to my grip to pitch here in Denver.”

Quintana’s one mistake was leaving a 2-2, 79 mph slurve over the plate in the fourth. Atlanta first baseman Matt Olson blasted the pitch for a 415-foot solo homer to right.

Pitching probables

Saturday: Braves LHP Chris Sale (5-1, 2.31 ERA) at Rockies TBA (opener), 6:10 p.m.
Sunday: Braves TBA at Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (1-2, 3.48), 1:10 p.m.

TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM

 

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