• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Rockies beat Braves on Gonzalez's walkoff hit

Jul 21, 2011 - 5:55 AM Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Martin Prado's mistake paved the way for Carlos Gonzalez, who singled home Dexter Fowler in the ninth inning to lift Colorado past Atlanta, 3-2, in the third contest of a four-game series at Coors Field.

Fowler's two-out grounder to third went right under the glove and between the legs of Prado for a two-base error. Eric O'Flaherty (1-3) then walked the right-handed pinch-hitter Ty Wigginton to set up the left-left matchup with Gonzalez, who ripped a solid single to right, allowing Fowler to slide in safely for the winning run.

"That's what we need right now," Gonzalez said. "We're taking the opportunities. The Giants lost today and that's the only way we're going to continue to get better."

The Rockies are 9 1/2 games behind San Francisco for first place in the NL West. Atlanta lost another game in the National League East race to the Phillies, who downed Chicago, 9-1, earlier on Wednesday and have a 4 1/2-game lead.

"I hope this game is not going to cost us at the end of the year," Prado said.

Huston Street (1-3) pitched a solid top of the ninth to pick up the victory, Colorado's second straight after a three-game losing streak.

Colorado posted its other two runs in the first after Gonzalez led off with a single to left and Todd Helton made Braves starter Tim Hudson pay on a pitch that tailed inside, turning his hips and driving it quickly out of the ballpark to right for an early 2-0 edge.

Atlanta pushed its first run across in the second as Jason Heyward singled, moved to second on a groundout and scored on David Ross' double to left.

Jordan Schafer stood on second base with nobody out in the top of the third, but was stranded on third to keep the one-run margin. The Braves then put together an even bigger threat in the sixth.

Prado reached first when Rockies starter Juan Nicasio missed a toss from Helton then Freddie Freeman doubled to put two runners in scoring position with nobody out. However, Dan Uggla's grounder to third nabbed Prado, who was running on contact, at home for the first out. A pair of ground outs allowed Nicasio to escape unscathed.

He pitched well despite getting a no-decision, giving up just one run on five hits with four strikeouts and one walk over seven frames. Hudson also pitched well, yielding two runs on five hits with five strikeouts and one walk in seven frames.

Game Notes

Gonzalez's walkoff hit was the second of his career...Hudson saw his three- start winning streak come to an end...Fowler has five hits in his last two games...Nicasio has given up one run over his last 14 innings...The Rockies have won six of seven in this series as the host.