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Minor, Braves blank Rockies for 6th straight win

Aug 1, 2013 - 3:01 AM Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Mike Minor spun seven stellar innings of two- hit ball and was one of six Atlanta players to knock in a run in the Braves' 9-0 throttling of the Colorado Rockies Wednesday in the third contest of a four-games set at Turner Field.

Brian McCann clubbed a three-run homer and Freddie Freeman finished 4-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored to provide more than enough run support for Minor (11-5), who struck out six without walking a batter to notch his third victory in his last four starts.

Evan Gattis and Chris Johnson each collected two hits, an RBI and a run scored, while Jason Heyward also knocked in a run to help the Braves secure their sixth straight victory.

"Our pitcher Mike Minor kept us in the ball game," Johnson said. "He allowed our offense to get comfortable."

Atlanta did most of its damage against Colorado starter Tyler Chatwood (7-4), touching the right-hander for eight runs -- seven earned -- on 10 hits and a walk over just 2 1/3 frames.

"You can't fall behind hot teams like that," Chatwood admitted. "You've got to be able to get ahead and try to pick the corners. I think I was behind pretty much every hitter tonight."

Dexter Fowler tallied two of the five hits for the Rockies, who have dropped seven of their last 10 games.

Freeman singled home Heyward in the first to put the home team on top before the Braves erupted for seven runs in the third to seize control.

Heyward started the rally with a walk and Justin Upton singled before Freeman and Gattis stroked back-to-back run-scoring singles to make it 3-0.

McCann then provided the big blow of the inning, launching a 2-0 fastball into the right-field seats to extend Atlanta's lead to 6-0.

Johnson followed with a single and Andrelton Simmons doubled two batters later before Minor helped his own cause with a base hit through the left side of the infield to score Johnson for a 7-0 cushion.

Chatwood was promptly lifted in favor of Adam Ottavino, who induced a groundout from Heyward that allowed Simmons to score for an 8-0 lead.

Atlanta added a run in the fourth when Freeman laced a leadoff single, moved to second on a balk, and found third on a groundout before scoring on Johnson's infield single to the hole at short to make it 9-0.

Minor, meanwhile, held the Rockies to a pair of singles over seven frames and never allowed the Rockies to move a baserunner into scoring position.

Game Notes

Colorado left fielder Carlos Gonzalez was removed in the fourth inning after aggravating the strain on his right middle finger ... Minor has thrown at least six innings in 20 straight starts and improved to 3-0 in four career starts against Colorado. He matched his career-high with 11 wins, which he set over 30 starts last season ... Johnson has hit safely in nine straight games, including six straight multi-hit games ... It was Freeman's second career four-hit game ... The Braves' seven-run third marked their third straight game with at least a six-run inning. It was the first time they've accomplished the feat since 1900.