Atlanta Braves @ Colorado Rockies
Heim drives in 5 runs to help Braves beat Rockies 11-6 in Strider's return
DENVER -- — Jonah Heim homered, doubled and drove in five runs, Jorge Mateo also hit a home run and the Atlanta Braves beat the Colorado Rockies 11-6 on Sunday.
Spencer Strider made his season debut for the Braves and allowed three runs and four hits in 3 1/3 innings in his return from an oblique injury suffered in spring training. He struck out six and walked five.
Aaron Bummer (1-1) came on in relief of Strider and gave up two runs in one inning while earning the win.
Atlanta placed star right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. on the 10-day injured list because of a strained left hamstring before the game.
But the Braves were able to get production throughout their lineup Sunday. Austin Riley hit a bases-loaded RBI single, Eli White walked to bring in a run and Matt Olson scored on a sacrifice fly by Heim to cap Atlanta’s three-run fifth that made it 6-4.
Kyle Freeland (1-3) gave up six runs and eight hits, walked three and had seven strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings for the Rockies.
Mickey Moniak homered twice for Colorado, a solo shot in the fourth and a two-run blast in the eighth. TJ Rumfield went 3 for 5 with a home run and two RBI.
Edouard Julien walked to lead off the first, stole second and scored on Rumfield's two-out single that made it 1-0.
Olson doubled to lead off the second and after Riley and White struck out swinging, Heim hit a 425-foot shot to center off Freeland. Mateo hit the next pitch 405 feet down the line in left to give the Braves a 3-1 lead.
Rumfield's leadoff homer in the third made it a one-run game.
Jake McCarthy tripled to lead off the fourth, Julien struck out swinging and Bummer replaced Strider. Three pitches later, Moniak hit a two-run shot that gave the Rockies a 4-3 lead.
Rockies: RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (3-1, 2.84 ERA) will start Monday against the New York Mets, who hadn't announced a starter.
Braves: RHP JR Ritchie (1-0, 2.92) is scheduled to pitch Monday against Mariners RHP Logan Gilbert (1-3, 4.03) in Seattle.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
ATL wins 3-0
Game Information
- Umpires:
- Home Plate Umpire - Bill Miller
- First Base Umpire - Brian Walsh
- Second Base Umpire - Chad Fairchild
- Third Base Umpire - Chad Whitson
2026 National League East Standings
| Team | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | 25 | 10 | .714 | - | W3 |
| Miami | 16 | 18 | .471 | 8.5 | L1 |
| Washington | 16 | 19 | .457 | 9 | W1 |
| Philadelphia | 14 | 20 | .412 | 10.5 | W1 |
| New York | 12 | 22 | .353 | 12.5 | W1 |
2026 National League West Standings
| Team | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 21 | 13 | .618 | - | W1 |
| San Diego | 20 | 13 | .606 | 0.5 | W1 |
| Arizona | 16 | 17 | .485 | 4.5 | L4 |
| Colorado | 14 | 21 | .400 | 7.5 | L4 |
| San Francisco | 13 | 21 | .382 | 8 | L6 |

