ATLANTA – Charlie Blackmon has been waiting for the Colorado Rockies to show off their power late in a game.
“Just because we’re down a run or two doesn’t mean we’re going to lose the game, and I don’t see that from our team,” Blackmon said. “I always see our guys fighting really hard, having good at-bats all the way to the end.”
Blackmon hit a go-ahead, two-run double, and Trevor Story followed with a three-run homer during a ninth-inning rally as the Rockies beat the Atlanta Braves 9-5 Saturday night for their 10th win in 12 games.
Nolan Arenado hit a second-inning home run for the Rockies.
Atlanta led 5-4 when David Dahl led off the ninth with a double off closer A.J. Minter (0-3) and advanced on a wild pitch. Minter walked Ian Desmond with two outs and a full count and Drew Butera on four pitches, and Blackmon doubled to right for a 6-5 lead.
“I got the two strikeouts I needed, was one pitch away from closing the ballgame out and being the hero,” Minter said. “It’s a tough one to swallow.”
Story fell behind 0-2 in the count against Dan Winkler, then drove a curveball 429 feet to left field.
“I think that’s the first 0-2 homer I’ve given up in my career,” Winkler said.
Bryan Shaw (1-0) allowed one hit in two innings, sending Atlanta to its fifth straight home loss.
Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz came off the injured list before the game after being sidelined since spring training with a bone spur in his right elbow. A 2018 All-Star, Foltynewicz gave up four runs and six hits in six innings, including solo homers to Arenado in the second and Daniel Murphy in the fourth.
Colorado’s Jon Gray allowed five runs, eight hits and three walks with in 4 2/3 innings.
Freddie Freeman homered for Atlanta in the first, Arenado’s home run tied the score and Ender Inciarte’s homer put the Braves ahead 2-1 in the second. Murphy’s first home run for the Rockies made it 2-2 in the third.
Atlanta took a 5-2 lead in the fifth when Ronald Acuna Jr. hit a two-run single and scored on Nick Markakis’ double.
Ryan McMahon hit an RBI single in the seventh off Foltynewicz and scored when Tony Wolters grounded out against Luke Jackson.
Rockies manager Bud Black was impressed with how well Blackmon and Story battled.
“A veteran player in the moment, calm, put a good swing on a low fastball,” Black said, “and then Trevor got the hanging breaking ball to cap it.”
Story extended his career-best hitting streak to 15 games.
Arenado has homered in five straight road games for a franchise record.
Freeman has reached safely in all 26 games this season. His streak is the second-best in Atlanta history to begin a season, behind J.D. Drew’s 27-game streak in 2004. Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews set the franchise mark of 37 in 1961 with the Milwaukee Braves.
Colorado has won eight straight at Atlanta, tying the team record for consecutive road wins at an opponent set in 2011 and ’12 against the New York Mets.
Atlanta left-handed pitcher Jesse Biddle has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a bruised right thigh and groin strain.