Matt Olson singled home ghost runner Brewer Hicklen in the bottom of the 10th to walk off the Rockies and complete the 3-game series sweep. Tyler Mahle struck out 9 in 6 2/3 innings, allowing 1 run on 5 hits and 0 walks. It was only the Rockies, but that was the task in front of him.
Last week I had the pleasure of writing about Sean Murphy‘s first RBI of the season. Sure, it was August 23rd, and sure, it was on a 70-foot roller where the 3rd baseman fell down. But if it kicks off a 7-game winning streak, who’s counting? This week I have the pleasure to report that Murphy drove in his 4th run of the season on his 2nd home run of the week. Maybe more regular playing time helps or maybe it’s random, but let’s roll with it.
Murphy’s homer put Atlanta up 1 – 0 in the 3rd and was immediately followed by an Austin Riley double off the very top of the left field wall. After taking 3rd on a wild pitch, Riley scored on a Ronald Acuna Jr. single.
Brandon Jake McCarthy‘s homer in the 5th accounted for the run charged to Mahle. The Rockies then tied it in the 8th on a single, bunt, groundout, single. Raisel Iglesias shut Colorado down in the 9th, but the Braves could not win it in regulation. Victory Mederos tossed an uneventful 10th to get credit for his 4th win.
The Braves hold a 5 1/2 game lead in the NL East, pending the outcome of the Phillies/Angels game. The Rockies are probably happy to be leaving for Denver, presumably on a jet plane, but I doubt they do much better there. San Francisco comes to town for 1 game Monday at 6:05 Eastern, Bryce Elder and Anthony Molina scheduled, then off to Washington for 3, starting on Tuesday.
Thanks Rusty, although I believe the fifth inning Rocky homer was hit by Jake McCarthy, not Brandon. By the way, it was bothering me the whole series that Jake McCarthy reminded me of somebody else. I’ve decided it was David Cassidy from the Partridge Family. You have to be a certain age for that to ring any bells, for sure!
You are correct, of course. I’ve updated it, thanks.
At least there was a real Brandon
McCarthy. As opposed to my reference to “Anthony” Mederos, who never existed. Brandon McCarthy was pretty good, although he never hit a home run in 167 plate appearances in the bigs. I had not noticed the Keith Partridge resemblance, but I think you’re right.
I’m not totally senile, but I’m getting there as fast as I can.
What I couldn’t figure out was how McCarthy found time to hit leadoff for the Rockies and fail as Viking QB. Failing at QB takes a lot of time!
Phillies win, so the lead remains 5 games.
Magic number is 21. That is not very high with 25 to play.