May 2, 2024
ATLANTA (AP) — Ozzie Albies had three hits and three RBIs, and the Atlanta Braves beat the Colorado Rockies 8-3 on Thursday night to give 20-year-old rookie AJ Smith-Shawver his first major league win.
Smith-Shawver (1-0) gave up three runs and six hits over 5 2/3 innings in his second career start. He struck out six, walked one and allowed two solo homers.
“He was really good,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “A lot better than his last start. There were a lot of little things I really liked. He never got really excited.”
Smith-Shawver threw 99 pitches and has a 2.03 ERA in three big league appearances after making pit stops at three minor league levels this season.
“I settled down a little bit (from his previous start),” Smith-Shawver said. “I didn't think I had my best stuff in my last start. The more starts you get, the more comfortable you get on the mound. One slider I left hanging, but I tried to minimize those pitches and give us a chance to win.”
Kevin Pillar went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and Sean Murphy added three hits and two runs for the first-place Braves, who have won nine of 11.
Michael Tonkin struck out six in 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief to earn his first career save. Atlanta's bullpen soaked up nine innings Wednesday in a doubleheader sweep at Detroit.
“To contribute and save some of the guys down in the bullpen is awesome,” Tonkin said.
Kyle Freeland (4-8) gave up seven runs and nine hits in 4 1/3 innings.
“The second inning was tough for Kyle,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “They put some good at-bats on him and some walks came back to haunt him. Maybe his stuff wasn't as crisp as we've seen it, but that happens, right? You're going to make 33, 34 starts, you're not going to have your best stuff every start.”
Albies batted second for the first time this season and responded with a three-run double in the second that gave the Braves a 5-1 lead. The switch-hitter had three hits off Freeland, raising his average against lefties this year to .418.
Rockies catcher Elias Díaz homered onto the Hank Aaron Terrace in left field in the second, and shortstop Ezequiel Tovar led off the fourth with a home run to left-center.
Atlanta took the lead for good with a five-run second inning. Pillar drove in Murphy and Matt Olson with a two-run double. After Orlando Arcia and Ronald Acuña Jr. walked, Albies cleared the bases with a double to left field.
A sacrifice fly by Acuña scored Arcia in the fourth, and a sacrifice fly by Marcell Ozuna knocked in Murphy in the fifth. Olson added his team-leading 19th home run in the seventh off Pierce Johnson.
