Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Rookie Jason Heyward hit a two-run single in the bottom of the ninth inning, as the Atlanta Braves edged the Colorado Rockies, 4-3, in the rubber match of a three-game set at Turner Field.
Jason Heyward Provides Walk-Off Single, Relief Day After Braves Were No-Hit
Heyward finished 1-for-3 with three RBI and a pair of walks, while Matt Diaz went 3-for-5 and finished a homer shy of the cycle for the Braves, who have won four of their last five and host Philadelphia for the start of a three- game set on Tuesday. Martin Prado also knocked in a run in the win.
“It’s sweet to win a game, especially when they had big hits,” Heyward said. “ It’s always sweet to win a game. We wanted to come out and win the series and that’s what we did.”
Jair Jurrjens allowed three runs on five hits -- two of them solo homers -- with three walks and nine strikeouts over eight innings, but did not factor in the decision. Eric O'Flaherty (1-0) earned the win with a perfect ninth.
Ian Stewart had three hits, including a solo homer and an RBI single, while Carlos Gonzalez added a solo shot for Colorado, which has dropped three of four.
“It’s a tough way to lose, but it’s part of the game. You move on and get back at it,” Stewart said.
Greg Smith got the start and surrendered two runs on five hits, walked seven and fanned five in 5 1/3 frames.
Down 3-2, Prado got the bottom of the ninth going with a base hit off Franklin Morales (0-1) and, after Chipper Jones flied out to center, advanced to second on a balk. Brian McCann then worked a walk and was replaced by pinch-runner Nate McLouth.
Troy Glaus stepped in and grounded into a force out on the first pitch, leaving runners on the corners. Brooks Conrad came on to run for Glaus. Morales then walked Yunel Escobar on four pitches to load the bases before Heyward slapped a 2-2 fastball through the left side that scored two, giving the Braves the thrilling 4-3 win.
Atlanta opened the scoring with a run in the first. Diaz led off with a triple and crossed the plate on Prado’s sacrifice fly to left.
Stewart's run-scoring single with one away in the top of the second brought in Troy Tulowitzki, who started the inning with a double, to draw Colorado even at 1-1. The Braves threatened in the home half, putting runners on first and second with two outs, but Melky Cabrera was thrown out at the plate by Gonzalez on Diaz's base hit to right.
With the bases loaded and two away in the third, Heyward worked a walk, scoring Jones, who got the inning started with a one-out double. Smith then struck out Cabrera to prevent further damage.
Stewart’s one-out solo homer to right in the top of the seventh tied things at 2-2.
Jurrjens stayed on for the top of the eighth and served up a line drive lead- off homer to Gonzalez, then settled down to retire the next three hitters -- two on strikeouts.
Rafael Betancourt was summoned out of the Colorado bullpen for the bottom half and issued a lead-off walk to Heyward, who took second on Cabrera's sacrifice bunt and made it to third on a wild pitch. However, Betancourt retired pinch- hitter Eric Hinske on a grounder to first and Diaz on a fly ball to keep it a 3-2 game.
Colorado and Atlanta split eight meetings last year...Atlanta finished 3- for-10 with runners in scoring position and stranded 13, while Colorado went 1-for-8 with RISP and left only four men on base.
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