Marcell Ozuna’s continued power surge was on full display as he launched his 30th home run of the season, propelling the Atlanta Braves to a 3-1 triumph over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night. Backed by a strong performance from Charlie Morton on the mound, the Braves notched their 16th victory in 21 games.
The Atlanta Braves, holding the best record in the major leagues at 86-45, showcased their dominance with a resounding 6-0 lead in their head-to-head matchups against the Rockies, amassing a staggering 57-17 run margin. On the other hand, the Rockies continued to struggle, facing their 12th defeat in the last 13 encounters against the Braves. With an NL-worst record of 49-83, the Rockies are set for their fifth consecutive losing season and have lost eight of their last nine games overall.
Marcell Ozuna’s offensive prowess was on full display as he homered for the fifth time in eight games, launching a solo drive in the second inning off Peter Lambert (3-5). Ozuna continued to contribute with an RBI single in the fifth inning, adding to the Braves’ run tally. Charlie Morton (14-10) demonstrated his pitching prowess, allowing only three hits and striking out eight batters over six innings. He maintained a dominant streak by pitching 19 scoreless innings until Harold Castro managed an RBI groundout in the second inning.
Morton praised the challenging environment of the stadium, emphasizing how it allowed him to fine-tune his breaking ball and experiment with his pitches. He found the experience beneficial for his performance. Ronald Acuña Jr., a standout for the Braves, continued his impressive season by recording a 2-for-5 performance, marking his 57th multi-hit game of the year. Acuña remained on the brink of an incredible milestone, just one home run away from becoming the first player to achieve 30 homers and 60 stolen bases in a single season. Although he came close to achieving this feat with a deep center-field shot in the fourth inning, Brenton Doyle’s catch against the wall denied him the home run.
Despite amassing an impressive 15 hits, the Braves left 12 runners stranded on base, illustrating their offensive dominance while also showcasing room for improvement.