Rockies Squander Early Lead, Fall to Braves in Extras

The night started with such promise for the Rockies, starting pitcher Guillermo Moscoso struck out two Braves in the top of the first inning, then in the bottom Colorado would score five runs on four hits and 2 walks in including a two out, two run single by Dexter Fowler. Tim Hudson would then settle in, retiring the next eleven Rockies batters in a row.

A two run home run by Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman in third would close the gap to three, and then in the 5th inning the Braves would take advantage of a questionable call on which Michael Bourn was tagged by Rockies catcher Ramon Hernandez and called out on a bunt attempt, then the call was reversed by the umpiring crew and the play changed to a foul ball. Bourn would then single to center-field, the first of four straight hits for the Braves. Matt Reynolds was called in the replace Moscoso and allowed an inherited run to score before ending the four run inning, with the Braves ahead 6-5

Moscoso would struggle his way through 4 1/3 innings, throwing 83 pitches, only 43 of those for strikes. He would finish the night allowing six runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out 5, raising his season ERA from 10.80 to 11.57.

The Rockies tied the score at six the following inning on a solo home run by Jonathan Herrera, his second of 2012, then traded runs with the Braves in the sixth, including Chipper Jones 459th career home run, to make the score 7-7.

That is how the score would stay until Eric Hinske hit his first home run of the season, a two run shot off Edgmer Escalona to put the braves ahead 9-7. The Rockies would rally in the bottom of the eleventh, scoring one run on a Todd Helton ground out, but Braves closer Craig Kimbrel would get Michael Cuddyer to ground to short stop to end the game.

With the loss the Rockies fall back to one game below .500 with a 12-13 record. The already taxed bullpen was forced to pitch 6 2/3 innings in last nights game. The Rockies are last in the N.L. with their starters averaging 5.4 innings per start and only the Kansas City Royals relievers have throw more innings than the Rockies 88 1/3.