Atlanta Braves’ Gerald Laird follows through on an RBI single against the Colorado Rockies to break a 2-2 tie during the eighth inning of a baseball game May 23, 2014, in Atlanta.ATLANTA – An unexpected string of four consecutive starts has helped Gerald Laird find his swing.
As a result, the veteran backup catcher is helping the Braves stretch their lead in the NL East.
Laird drove in two runs with two hits, including a tiebreaking single in the eighth, and Atlanta beat Colorado 3-2 on Friday night after the Rockies lost third baseman Nolan Arenado to a broken finger.
Arenado left the game in the second inning after fracturing his left middle finger on a head-first slide into second base. Rockies manager Walt Weiss said he didn’t know details of the injury, including if Arenado will need surgery.
Arenado appears bound for the disabled list.