The Colorado Rockies snapped an eight-game losing streak in dramatic fashion, as Brenton Doyle crushed a tiebreaking home run off reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale, leading the team to a 2-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves. This win was a much-needed boost for the Rockies, who had endured a brutal stretch, losing 16 of their last 17 games and getting outscored by an alarming 78 runs during that span. At 5-25, they dodged the dubious distinction of joining the 1988 Baltimore Orioles as one of only two teams since 1901 to lose at least 26 of their first 30 games.
Doyle, who had been mired in an 0-for-20 slump, delivered when it mattered most, connecting on an inside fastball and launching it 421 feet to left-center. This homer not only ended his skid but also set the tone for a Rockies lineup desperately seeking signs of life. He contributed further with a double later in the game, showcasing the potential that had fans excited about his arrival.
On the mound, rookie Chase Dollander, selected as the Rockies’ No. 9 overall pick in the 2023 amateur draft, turned in a commendable performance. In just his fifth big league start, Dollander against all odds secured his second win, despite battling through a cracked fingernail. He allowed only one run on two hits and three walks over 5⅔ innings, striking out four. His can-do spirit on the mound demonstrated resilience that will be crucial as the season progresses.
The Rockies’ bullpen came in strong, as Jake Bird, Seth Halvorsen, and Zach Agnos combined to finish the game with a three-hitter. Agnos clinched his first major league save, while Bird struck out two in his 1⅓ innings of work, adding to his impressive tally of 24 strikeouts in just 17⅔ innings this season. Manager Bud Black praised the pitching, emphasizing how vital strong performances are when runs are hard to come by. “That’s what it takes; it was a hard-fought win,” he stated, highlighting the collective effort needed for this victory.
Interestingly, while the pitching shined, Ryan McMahon continued to struggle at the plate, extending his hitless streak to a franchise-record 0-for-34. This slump places him marginally ahead of Desi Relaford’s previous record from 2005. McMahon’s performance is a key indicator of the Rockies’ ongoing challenges, as he now holds just two hits in his last 58 at-bats.
The pivotal moment of the game occurred when Bird took the mound to protect a slim 2-1 lead. He faced a crucial situation with runners on first and second but managed to strike out Ozzie Albies, extinguishing Atlanta’s threat and ensuring the Braves wouldn’t place any runners in scoring position for the rest of the night.
As for the Braves, Sale displayed flashes of brilliance, notching his second-highest strikeout total of the season with 10, while only allowing two runs on five hits. Up until that point, Atlanta had been riding high, winning nine of their previous 11 games, but on this night, they couldn’t contain the rejuvenated Rockies.
Looking ahead, the Rockies will send Kyle Freeland (0-4, 5.93 ERA) to the mound for Thursday’s matchup against San Francisco, where he will face the veteran Justin Verlander (0-2, 4.99). If this victory is any indication, perhaps the Rockies are poised to turn things around and climb out of the depths of their recent struggles.
