Gomes drives in 3 runs, Braves beat Rockies 5-3 to end skid

Atlanta Braves' Jonny Gomes follows through on a two-run home run in the first inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies on Monday, Aug. 24, 2015, in Atlanta.
Atlanta Braves' Jonny Gomes follows through on a two-run home run in the first inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies on Monday, Aug. 24, 2015, in Atlanta.

ATLANTA -- Jonny Gomes drove in three runs with two hits, including a two-run homer in the first, and the Atlanta Braves beat the Colorado Rockies 5-3 on Monday night to end their seven-game losing streak.

Adonis Garcia snapped a 2-2 tie with a homer off Jorge De La Rosa (7-6) in the fourth. Gomes' fifth-inning single drove in Cameron Maybin, who doubled.

The losing streak was Atlanta's longest of the season. The Rockies have lost four straight.

Colorado's Charlie Blackmon and Ben Paulsen hit homers in the first and second innings, respectively. Julio Teheran (9-6) was strong after that as he allowed three runs on four hits in 7 1-3 innings.

Rockies right fielder Carlos Gonzalez left the game in the fifth with soreness in his right knee. His status is day to day.

Brandon Barnes, who took over for Gonzalez in right field, drove in Matt McBride with a single to left field off Edwin Jackson in the eighth. Blackmon tried to score from second but a replay confirmed he was out on left fielder Michael Bourn's throw to the plate.

Arodys Vizcaino pitched a perfect ninth for his fourth save.

Gomes hit cleanup despite taking a .208 batting average into the game as the Braves looked for a good matchup against De La Rosa, a left-hander. Gomes' .274 career average against left-handers is more than 50 points better than his mark against right-handers. Four of his six homers this season have come against lefties.

Nick Markakis had three hits, including a run-scoring double in the sixth.

Braves catcher Christian Bethancourt, recalled before the game, was 0 for 3 with a walk.

Bethancourt, 23, hit only .198 in 101 at-bats over 29 games before he was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on June 15. He hit .327 at Gwinnett.

"The biggest thing is we need to find out how good the guy can be," said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez.

Gonzalez said he plans to use veteran A.J. Pierzynski behind the plate on Tuesday night and give Bethancourt another start in Wednesday night's final game of the series.

The Braves also recalled right-hander Sugar Ray Marimon. Right-hander David Aardsma was designated for assignment and outfielder Eury Perez was optioned to Gwinnett.

De La Rosa allowed five runs on nine hits and four walks in seven innings.

Upcoming Events