Rockies Break Losing Streak with Victory Over Braves
DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies celebrated a much-needed victory, defeating the Atlanta Braves 2-1 on Wednesday, snapping an eight-game losing streak. Rookie Chase Dollander, the Rockies’ No. 9 overall pick in the 2023 draft, delivered an impressive performance, outpitching reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale by allowing only one run and two hits over 5.2 innings.
"This is a great confidence-builder for him," said Rockies manager Bud Black. "For him to basically outduel a Cy Young Award winner is a great feat."
The win was a welcome relief for the Rockies, who had languished with just five victories against 25 losses, avoiding the dubious distinction of becoming only the second MLB team since 1901 to lose at least 26 of its first 30 games. The last team to do so was the 1988 Baltimore Orioles.
Frustrations were evident within the team, as they had lost 16 of their previous 17 games. "We just don’t have enough guys playing well," Black noted, urging the team to elevate their collective performance. Key player Ryan McMahon extended his hitless streak to a team-record 34 at-bats, underscoring the offensive struggles faced by the Rockies.
Brenton Doyle’s tiebreaking home run in the third inning provided crucial support for Dollander. Despite the ongoing challenges, Doyle expressed the importance of celebrating wins: "Everyone in here is a competitor, so losing definitely hurts. But we know we have to celebrate the wins."
The Rockies now look to build on this momentum as they strive to improve their season.
