Braves drop into wild-card tie with Mets, lose 3-1 to Rockies as Toglia and Tovar homer

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves dropped into a tie for the final NL wild card berth, losing 3-1 to Colorado on Thursday night as Michael Toglia and Ezequiel Tovar hit solo home runs for the Rockies.

Atlanta and New York are both 76-64 with 22 games left, eight games back of NL East-leading Philadelphia.

“Frustrating when we can’t score, especially when we get a good start,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “Just frustrating that we couldn’t get anything going.”

Austin Gomber (5-10) allowed one run and five hits in eight innings, matching his season high. He struck out six and walked none.

“He had a good fastball, in and out, up and down,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “A good hook, good change, good slider. He pitched really well. Whether that’s the best he’s pitched all year, it’s right up there with it.”

Tyler Kinley pitched a perfect ninth for his ninth save in 10 chances as Colorado avoided a three-game sweep and ended an eight-game losing streak at Truist Park.

Atlanta, which had won 16 of its previous 19 games against the Rockies, didn't get a runner to second base after the second inning. Its starting pitchers have not allowed more than three runs in 24 straight games, but offense has struggled.

Colorado faced the minimum 24 batters over the last eight innings. Marcell Ozuna was the sole Atlanta batter to reach in the span when he singled in the sixth, and Matt Olson followed with an inning-ending double-play grounder.

“We can’t get a toehold to keep anything going,” Snitker said. “The starting pitching we are getting is just so good. Bullpen guys have been really good.”

López (8-5) gave up both solo homers and five hits in six innings with 11 strikeouts and no walks.

“I’m trying to keep the team in striking distance to win the game, but i didn’t fulfill the objective, because the objective is to win the game,” he said through an interpreter. “As nice as it is to strike out guys and go deep into the game, ultimately, its ruined if you don’t win the game.”

Ramón Laureano hit an RBI single in the first.

Toglia tied the score in the second with 11th home run, a 451-drive on a hanging curveball that landed over the trees beyond the center field wall. It was his first home run this year on an 0-2 pitch.

Tovar homered in the sixth, over the the Rockies bullpen and into the left-field bleachers. Toglia and Tovar are tied with Brenton Doyle for the team lead with 22 homers each.

Toglia walked against Luke Jackson, stole second and continued to third on catcher Sean Murphy's errant throw, then scored on Nolan Jones' sacrifice fly.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rockies: The Rockies promoted RHP Jaden Hill from Triple-A Albuquerque. The 2021 second-round pick out of LSU will make his MLB debut out of the bullpen soon, according to Black.

Braves: INF Whit Merrifield (concussion) missed his second straight game but was available off the bench, according to Snitker. He could return to the lineup Friday against the Blue Jays.

UP NEXT

Rockies: RHP Ryan Feltner (1-10, 5.11) opens a three-game series Friday at Milwaukee, which starts RHP Frankie Montas (6-9, 4.70).

Braves LHP Max Fried (8-8, 3.52) faces Blue Jays RHP Kevin Gausman (12-10, 4.07) in the first game of a three-game series at home on Friday.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Bill Trocchi, The Associated Press