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Atlanta Braves Clippings Friday, July 10, 2015 Braves.com Braves take rain-soaked loss in Colorado By Mark Bowman and Thomas Harding / MLB.com | 4:31 AM ET DENVER -- Carlos Gonzalez doubled a career-high three times, Nolan Arenado had three hits and Troy Tulowitzki extended his hitting streak to 21 games as the Rockies won for the third time in their last nine games, 5-3, over the Braves on a wet Thursday night at Coors Field. A 2-hour, 6-minute rain delay in the first inning forced Rockies starter Kyle Kendrick from the game after one inning and Braves starter Alex Wood out after two pitches. The Rockies had to dig deeper into the bullpen because David Hale (3-4), who was supposed to start Friday but replaced Kendrick, suffered a left groin strain scoring on a second-inning sacrifice fly and left after 1 2/3 innings with a 4-0 lead. John Axford (15 saves) was the last of eight Rockies pitchers. "We had a plan in place -- the off-day on Monday helped because that meant David was on his normal rest," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "Although we weren't planning on the pulled groin. That really threw a wrench in our plans. The bullpen really was huge tonight." Drew Stubbs hit his fourth homer of the year, a solo shot in the second off Jake Brigham (0-1). As the game continued, the game was played through precipitation ranging from mist to moderate rain. "Obviously nobody was enjoying that, but what can you do?" Braves utility man Kelly Johnson said of the rain. "That's just a really unfortunate thing that it got to that point. It just stinks. It just takes a little bit of the fun out of it. But you still have to play. I don't think anybody mailed it in. It's just frustrating and distracting." MOMENTS THAT MATTERED On the double: Gonzalez, who had three hits in Wednesday's 10-2 loss to the Angels, knocked one of the Rockies' three first-inning doubles (Arenado and Wilin Rosario also doubled). Gonzalez doubled to open the third, and doubled and scored in the fifth. Gonzalez had the most doubles for a Rockies player since Charlie Blackmon had three last April 4 against the D-backs. Gonzalez missed much of last year with finger and knee injuries, and is still regaining health and timing. "I'm finally getting my timing back, which is the biggest key for me," Gonzalez said. "Tonight, I was able to sit back on my back leg, something I wasn't able to do the past two years with the surgery. I knew at some point I'd get there." Could have been much worse: Given that Wood was limited to just two pitches because of the questionable decision to start the game less than 10 minutes before the rain arrived, the Braves felt fortunate to only use four relievers and not put much stress on their bullpen. But despite surrendering extra-base hits to four of the first eight batters he faced, Brigham managed to eat four innings in just his fourth career appearance. Mike Foltynewicz surrendered a pair of doubles before recording his first out in the fifth. But he completed his two-inning stint by striking out four of the final six batters he faced. "[Brigham] really set up the rest of the guys and everybody did a nice job," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "We could have used the whole bullpen and we didn't." Oberg saves the night: The Braves' Jace Peterson doubled in two runs off Christian Friedrich in the fifth, before manager Walt Weiss went to Scott Oberg with one out and two on. Cameron Maybin managed a sacrifice fly, but Oberg fanned Nick Markakis on a high, 96-mph fastball. Quiet most of the night: The Braves tallied three runs in the top of the fifth inning, which was highlighted by Peterson's two-run double. But they squandered Chris Johnson's leadoff double in the third and went scoreless in the other eight innings. SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS A night after an Angels-Rockies game was delayed, partly because of the anticipation of rain, the Rockies tried to get the game going but quickly had to place the tarp on the field. That was a difficult process, as a strong wind ripped the tarp from the hands of the grounds crew. Weiss, first- base coach Eric Young and several players including Rosario, pitcher Chad Bettis and backup catcher Michael McKenry helped with the tarp. They removed the tarp once, but had to replace it before the game resumed. Although Thursday was more colorful than most, rain delays aren't that

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Page 1: Atlanta Braves Clippings Friday, July 10, 2015mlb.mlb.com/documents/5/6/4/136302564/071015_wiki4fic.pdfAtlanta Braves Clippings Friday, July 10, 2015 Braves.com Braves take rain-soaked

Atlanta Braves Clippings

Friday, July 10, 2015

Braves.com

Braves take rain-soaked loss in Colorado

By Mark Bowman and Thomas Harding / MLB.com | 4:31 AM ET

DENVER -- Carlos Gonzalez doubled a career-high three times, Nolan Arenado had three hits and Troy Tulowitzki extended his hitting streak to 21 games as the Rockies won for the third time in their last nine games, 5-3, over the Braves on a wet Thursday night at Coors Field.

A 2-hour, 6-minute rain delay in the first inning forced Rockies starter Kyle Kendrick from the game after one inning and Braves starter Alex Wood out after two pitches. The Rockies had to dig deeper into the bullpen because David Hale (3-4), who was supposed to start Friday but replaced Kendrick, suffered a left groin strain scoring on a second-inning sacrifice fly and left after 1 2/3 innings with a 4-0 lead. John Axford (15 saves) was the last of eight Rockies pitchers.

"We had a plan in place -- the off-day on Monday helped because that meant David was on his normal rest," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "Although we weren't planning on the pulled groin. That really threw a wrench in our plans. The bullpen really was huge tonight."

Drew Stubbs hit his fourth homer of the year, a solo shot in the second off Jake Brigham (0-1). As the game continued, the game was played through precipitation ranging from mist to moderate rain.

"Obviously nobody was enjoying that, but what can you do?" Braves utility man Kelly Johnson said of the rain. "That's just a really unfortunate thing that it got to that point. It just stinks. It just takes a little bit of the fun out of it. But you still have to play. I don't think anybody mailed it in. It's just frustrating and distracting."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED On the double: Gonzalez, who had three hits in Wednesday's 10-2 loss to the Angels, knocked one of the Rockies' three first-inning doubles (Arenado and Wilin Rosario also doubled). Gonzalez doubled to open the third, and doubled and scored in the fifth. Gonzalez had the most doubles for a Rockies player since Charlie Blackmon had three last April 4 against the D-backs. Gonzalez missed much of last year with finger and knee injuries, and is still regaining health and timing.

"I'm finally getting my timing back, which is the biggest key for me," Gonzalez said. "Tonight, I was able to sit back on my back leg, something I wasn't able to do the past two years with the surgery. I knew at some point I'd get there."

Could have been much worse: Given that Wood was limited to just two pitches because of the questionable decision to start the game less than 10 minutes before the rain arrived, the Braves felt fortunate to only use four relievers and not put much stress on their bullpen. But despite surrendering extra-base hits to four of the first eight batters he faced, Brigham managed to eat four innings in just his fourth career appearance. Mike Foltynewicz surrendered a pair of doubles before recording his first out in the fifth. But he completed his two-inning stint by striking out four of the final six batters he faced.

"[Brigham] really set up the rest of the guys and everybody did a nice job," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "We could have used the whole bullpen and we didn't."

Oberg saves the night: The Braves' Jace Peterson doubled in two runs off Christian Friedrich in the fifth, before manager Walt Weiss went to Scott Oberg with one out and two on. Cameron Maybin managed a sacrifice fly, but Oberg fanned Nick Markakis on a high, 96-mph fastball.

Quiet most of the night: The Braves tallied three runs in the top of the fifth inning, which was highlighted by Peterson's two-run double. But they squandered Chris Johnson's leadoff double in the third and went scoreless in the other eight innings.

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS A night after an Angels-Rockies game was delayed, partly because of the anticipation of rain, the Rockies tried to get the game going but quickly had to place the tarp on the field. That was a difficult process, as a strong wind ripped the tarp from the hands of the grounds crew. Weiss, first-base coach Eric Young and several players including Rosario, pitcher Chad Bettis and backup catcher Michael McKenry helped with the tarp. They removed the tarp once, but had to replace it before the game resumed. Although Thursday was more colorful than most, rain delays aren't that

Page 2: Atlanta Braves Clippings Friday, July 10, 2015mlb.mlb.com/documents/5/6/4/136302564/071015_wiki4fic.pdfAtlanta Braves Clippings Friday, July 10, 2015 Braves.com Braves take rain-soaked

uncommon this year. The Rockies and opponents have sat through 22 hours, 24 minutes of rain delay at Coors this season -- and that's not counting the four rainouts.

REPLAY REVIEW Braves pitcher Brigham bunted in the third inning and was awarded first base when umpire Jeff Kellogg ruled that the Rockies' Wilin Rosario was off the bag when he received catcher Nick Hundley's throw. The call was overturned after 38 seconds. But the delay was longer, because that was the play on which Hale was injured.

WHAT'S NEXT Braves: All-Star Shelby Miller will take the mound when Atlanta and Colorado resume their four-game series on Friday night at 8:10 p.m. ET. Miller has produced a 2.04 ERA in three career starts against the Rockies, but he surrendered six hits, issued five walks and allowed three earned runs while lasting just 2 2/3 innings in his only start at Coors Field.

Rockies: After picking up a fourth-inning single on Thursday, Tulowitzki will look to extend his hitting streak to 22 games and his on-base streak to 37 games on Friday. His hitting streak is currently the longest in the Major Leagues. First pitch is at 6:10 p.m. MT. Weiss said after the game he was still undecided about a starter and would make the announcement sometime before the game.

Rain pushes Wood to Sunday start

Lefty throws just two pitches in opener in Colorado before lengthy delay

By Mark Bowman / MLB.com | @mlbbowman | 3:37 AM ET

DENVER -- Unlike many of his Braves teammates, Alex Wood had not looked at the weather radar before Thursday night's game at Coors Field. But after he was forced to return to the clubhouse after throwing just two pitches during the first inning of a 5-3 loss to the Rockies, the southpaw got a glimpse of the radar and wondered why the game had started less than 10 minutes before the arrival of a storm that caused a lengthy delay.

"After coming back inside and seeing what the radar was looking like going into game time, I was pretty surprised they wanted to start that game," said Wood, who will now start Sunday's series finale after being affected by this unusual turn of events.

Once play resumed after a two-hour, six-minute delay, Wood and Rockies starting pitcher Kyle Kendrick obviously could not return. Thus, it turned into a bullpen game, during which the Braves were fortunate to only have to use four relievers. The Rockies used eight different pitchers, but limited Atlanta's offense to the three runs tallied in the fifth inning.

"It was a Spring Training game or a bullpen game," Braves utility man Kelly Johnson said. "Those happen. You're going to run into those. You take everything into account and that was just a weird night. It's not really a lot of fun."

Wood did not seem bothered by the fact that he will now have to alter his normal preparations before taking the mound again in the series finale. Sunday's scheduled starter Manny Banuelos will be available to serve as a long reliever on Saturday or Sunday.

With Wood's start wasted on Thursday, the Braves handed the ball to Jake Brigham, the 27-year-old right-hander who is three weeks removed from pitching at the Double-A level. Brigham surrendered a pair of runs during both of the first two innings, but his ability to keep things respectable over four innings could prove beneficial to the Braves' bullpen over the remainder of the series.

Mike Foltynewicz extended this trend and made the Braves even more thankful they recalled him from Triple-A Gwinnett earlier this week to serve as an extra reliever. Foltynewicz surrendered three hits, including two doubles, before recording his first out. But he struck out four of the final six batters he faced and ate two innings.

A steady rain fell throughout most of this night, and Braves catcher A.J. Pierzynski expressed his frustration to crew chief Jeff Kellogg after he grounded out in his final at-bat. But the conditions and questionable decision to begin the game with that much rain in the area made things uncomfortable fot both teams.

"Other than a Major League manager, I think the weatherman or the people making the decision are the only people that get second-guessed more than I do," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "It was a situation there where it was just a popup shower and it got us."

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Braves sign top Draft pick Allard

Club has not confirmed signing

By Mark Bowman / MLB.com | @mlbbowman | July 9th, 2015

DENVER -- After spending the past couple weeks experiencing some unexpected extended negotiations, the Braves felt some relief on Thursday, when they reached an agreement with Kolby Allard, their top selection in the 2015 MLB Draft. The Braves have not commented on this deal, which is pending a physical.

An industry source confirmed that Allard has reached an agreement on a $3,042,000 signing bonus, which is $200,000 over the recommended slot for this year's 14th overall pick. ESPN's Keith Law was the first to report the signing bonus figure.

When Allard was selected by the Braves with the 14th overall selection, he was heralded as one of the best available pitchers in this year's Draft. The 17-year-old product of California's San Clemente High School would have likely gone much sooner had he not missed most of his senior season with a stress fracture in his back.

"I'm not worried about my back," Allard said. "It's not like it's a career thing. It's just a freaky little thing. I'm ready to put it behind me."

It appears Allard will soon have the opportunity to do so. Late Thursday afternoon, he posted on Twitter that he was ready to begin his journey.

Though Allard does not have a physically-imposing frame, he features two plus pitches -- a fastball that has sat between 92-94 mph and curveball that Braves scouting director Brian Bridges described as one of the best available in this year's Draft.

Allard fanned 17 of the 29 hitters he faced while leading Team USA to a gold medal in last summer's Pan American Championship.

"He pitches to both sides of the plate and the changeup is on the come, like most prep pitches," Bridges said. "But he has a very good arm and he's a great kid."

The Braves have now reached an agreement with each of their first 25 selections.

Miller, Braves set to battle streaking Tulo, Rox

By Dargan Southard / MLB.com | 3:02 AM ET

The Rockies and Braves will resume their four-game series on Friday at Coors Field -- with Atlanta sending All-Star right-hander Shelby Miller (5-4, 2.07 ERA) to the hill.

Colorado was scheduled to start David Hale, but he was pressed into duty on Thursday after Kyle Kendrick didn't return following a lengthy rain delay. Hale left Thursday's game after 1 2/3 innings with a mild left groin strain. Rockies manager Walt Weiss said he would announce his starter sometime Friday.

Miller, meanwhile, has been the Braves' most consistent starter this season, having given up three earned runs or fewer in 15 of his 17 starts. His previous outing was another gem -- 6 1/3 scoreless innings with eight strikeouts.

Things to know about this game

• In three career starts against the Rockies, Miller is 2-0 with a 2.04 ERA. Only one of those starts came at Coors Field, where Miller gave up three runs over 2 2/3 innings on June 24, 2014.

• None of the Rockies' players have many career at-bats against Miller -- Wilin Rosario has the most with seven, which produced two hits. Nolan Arenado has the second most, going 0-for-6 against the right-hander in his career.

• Troy Tulowitzki will look to extend his hitting streak to 22 games and his on-base streak to 37 games on Friday. His hitting streak is currently the longest in the Major Leagues.

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Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Braves quotes after Thursday’s loss at Colorado

By David O'Brien - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Braves quotes from Alex Wood, Kelly Johnson and Fredi Gonzalez after Thursday’s 5-3 loss at Colorado.

**FREDI GONZALEZ

On relievers preventing game from getting out of hand

“It could have gotten realy ugly. I thought our guys did a nice job. Brigham, to get thrown into an emergency start like that and give us four innings – he really set up the rest of the guys. Everybody else did a nice job. We could have used the whole bullpen, and we didn’t.

“We got within one run. They held a two-run lead the rest of the way. The groundskeeper did a nice job getting the game in, really. I mean, that field was almost getting unplayable, and they got the game in.”

Did you feel it was unfortunate to lose Wood to the rain delay, he’s been so good on the road all season

“The weather… I think other than a major league manager, I think the weatherman and the people making that decision (to play) get second-guessed more than I do. In a situation there, a pop-up shower got us. We’re going to bring Woody back (to start) on Sunday, that’s the plan. We’re going to use Banuelos as a long guy Saturday and Sunday, keep him alive there. We don’t just waste away Woody.

“I think it was the right decision (not to bring Wood back). Both managers did it. (Rockies starter Kyle) Kendrick couldn’t come back, either. And then you’ve got a bullpen game, and here we go. This field is unforgiving. But we got through it. We got through it.”

Did it get to point where you were getting concerned about safety of players, due to the wet field?

“I was. And I think, like I said, the groundskeepers were out there. It got to the point where they couldn’t put any equipment on it. It was just shovels and spreading out the kitty litter around just to keep it playable.”

On Peterson with bases loaded, another big hit

“He gives you good at-bats. He doesn’t get rattled with people on base, he stays within his approach.”

On Foltynewicz retiring last six batters he faced, four by strikeouts, after giving up three straight hits to start his appearance

“He did a nice job, he really did. He gets (runners at) second and third, nobody out, and he was able to get out of there only giving up one run. That was nice to see from him coming out of that bullpen.”

Looked like A.J. was showing frustrated there at end over the umpires continuing the game in the conditions

“It’s one of those situations where you’re frustrated. But like we talked to him in the dugout – ‘A.J., if they stop the game, we’re going to lose. They’re not going to re-start this game.’ It’s just a matter of frustration and that kind of stuff. Just a long day.”

“If the umpires stop the game, we’re going to lose. As long as the infield’s manageable, try and keep it going.”

**ALEX WOOD

On decision to start the game with rain and storms nearby

“After coming back inside (the clubhouse during the delay) and seeing what the radar was looking like going into gametime, I was pretty surprised that they wanted to start that game. But that’s the way it goes, and it sucks. I mean, Brigham has to wear it out of the bullpen. I know he’s been a starter this year down in the minor leagues, but he’s been up here however long he’s been up here, and having to go in in that situation, it’s unfortunate.

“You’ve got to deal with it, move on, move forward, and I look forward to taking the ball on Sunday.”

More on decision to start the game on time despite storms approaching

“I didn’t know anything about the rain. I saw it was cloudy when we got out there, and I’d looked at the outside on video (monitor) before I’d gone out and it was a little cloudy. But I didn’t look at the radar and nobody had been talking about a rain delay possibility. So I was pretty surprised. And then, like I said, I came back and looked at the radar, what it was like leading up to the game, and I was pretty surprised that we started that game.

“If it had been less time (length of the delay) I would have gone back out. It ended up being two hours or however long it had been, and Skip (Fredi Gonzalez) and Roger (McDowell) made the decision just to put me in the schedule on Sunday and go with Brigham (after tonight’s rain delay).”

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**KELLY JOHNSON

On the long delay and playing in the rain

“They (Rockies) had a rain delay last night, so obviously nobody was enjoying that tonight. What can you do? It’s just a really unfortunate thing it got to that point. It just stinks. It just takes something out of it. That’s all, it just takes a little fun out of it, I guess.

“But you’ve still got to play. I don’t think anybody mailed it in. It’s just frustrating and distracting.”

Especially when you lose Wood, who’s been very good on the road all season

“Yeah, he’s been very, very good on the road. Recently, all of it (home and road). It would’ve been a good way to come in and get some momentum in the series. But, I mean, shoot, hopefully no more rain.”

“It’s just weird. You take everything into account, that was just a weird night. It’s not really a lot of fun, to be honest with you. That’s really about all there is to say about it, it’s just not fun and unfortunate. I don’t know who’s fault it is or what you can do about it, but it shouldn’t happen. I wish it wouldn’t happen. But it did.”

**MIKE FOLTYNEWICZ

On bullpen not allowing things to spiral out of control

“Yeah, Jake (Brigham) goes out there, he battled his butt off. The rest of us guys just have to go in there and clean it up. We did a pretty decent job with those conditions. Now we’ve just got to go out there and play with what we’re given.”

Especially nice to work your way out of that jam?

“Yeah, especially (with runners on) second and third, no outs. I kind of just settled down a little bit, breathe a little more and just took my time between pitches there, and really concentrated and focused, and got out of there with one run, which could have been a lot worse. I was happy to get out of there with just one run.”

Does it feel like that’s what what you can do, once everything starts to come together for you?

“Yeah, especially after I got the first strikeout, I really settled down more, and the next inning I went out there and I really concentrated between every single pitch. Usually I’m up there rapid-fire, rapid-fire, but I just took my time and really thought about what pitch I wanted to throw, where at, and I just got my confidence back in the second inning (that he pitched).”

On topping out with a few 99-mph pitches tonight in relief role

“I had a couple of innings there, and was just going to go out and attack hitters, just go right at them with my best pitch, which is the fastball. If they’re going to put it in play, put it in play. I’ve got eight guys behind me. I knew this was going to be my role for a while. I’m just going to go out there and attack guys with my best stuff and go at it like that.”

Rockies score four early in rainy 5-3 win over Braves

By David O'Brien - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

DENVER — Jace Peterson did what he does with bases loaded, doubling to drive in the Braves’ first two runs in a three-run fifth inning and give them a needed jolt on a long, wet Thursday night at Coors Field.

But Braves relievers couldn’t stop the Rockies early — starter Alex Wood exited during a long first-inning rain delay – and the Braves couldn’t score early or late in a 5-3, series-opening loss that moved at a glacial pace due to weather-related delays, numerous pitching changes and double-digit hits for each team.

“They (Rockies) had a rain delay last night, so obviously nobody was enjoying that tonight,” Braves left fielder Kelly Johnson said. “What can you do? It’s just a really unfortunate thing that got to that point. It just stinks. It just takes something out of it. That’s all, it just takes a little fun out of it, I guess.

“But you’ve still got to play. I don’t think anybody mailed it in. It’s just frustrating and distracting.”

After winning six of their first seven July games, the Braves (42-44) have lost two in a row at Milwaukee and Colorado, and need to win the remaining three games of the series to avoid going to the All-Star break with a record below .500.

The Rockies scored two runs in each of the first two innings against rookie reliever Jake Brigham, who gave up eight hits, including four doubles and a Drew Stubbs homer, before recording his seventh out.

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Since Wood threw only two pitches, the Braves will have him start Sunday’s series finale in place of rookie Manny Banuelos, who’ll be available out of the bullpen Saturday or Sunday.

“After coming back inside (during the delay) and seeing what the radar was looking like going into gametime, I was pretty surprised that they wanted to start that game,” Wood said. “But that’s the way it goes, and it sucks. I mean, Brigham has to wear it out of the bullpen. I know he’s been a starter this year down in the minor leagues, but he’s been up here however long he’s been up here, and having to go in in that situation — it’s unfortunate.

“You’ve got to deal with it, move on, move forward, and I look forward to taking the ball on Sunday.”

Wood was just the major league pitcher in the past six seasons to make a start without throwing a strike. He joined former Royals pitcher Danny Duffy, who threw one pitch in a September 2014 against the Yankees before leaving with an injury. Wood’s two-pitch outing was also the shortest start since Duffy’s.

“I think the weatherman and the people making that decision (to play) get second-guessed more than I do,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “In a situation there, a pop-up shower got us.”

The Rockies maintained a 4-0 lead until the fifth, when the Braves loaded the bases on singles by Chris Johnson and Andrelton Simmons and a Jonny Gomes walk. That set the stage for Peterson to continue his stunning success with bases loaded.

Peterson lined a two-run double to make him 8-for-12 with two doubles, a triple, a homer and 20 RBIs in bases-loaded at-bats. He’s driven in more than half of the 39 runners who’ve been on base when he’s come up with bases full.

Cameron Maybin followed with a sacrifice fly that cut the lead to 4-3. But the Rockies answered with a run in the bottom of the inning when the first three batters against reliever Mike Foltynewicz produced a double, single and double. Carlos Gonzalez hit the leadoff double, his career-high third double in the game.

Foltynewicz retired the next six batters, including four strikeouts, to complete his two-inning stint in his second appearance since being recalled from the Triple-A Gwinnett rotation and moved to the bullpen to give the Braves an extra arm in the Rockies series.

After a questionable decision to start the game despite storms in the area, only a half-inning was completed before the skies opened and the winds kicked up while Wood was beginning to work in the bottom of the first. He threw just two pitches (balls) to leadoff hitter Charlie Blackmon before play was halted.

The delay lasted 2 hours, 6 minutes, and effectively cost both teams their starting pitchers. Neither manager wanted to risk injury by having a starter warm up again after such a long break.

“I think it was the right decision (not to bring Wood back),” Gonzalez said. “Both managers did it. (Rockies starter Kyle) Kendrick couldn’t come back, either. And then you’ve got a bullpen game, and here we go. This field is unforgiving. But we got through it. We got through it.”

That development didn’t work in the Braves’ favor: Rockies starter Kyle Kendrick was 1-4 with a 6.70 ERA in six home starts before Thursday, with 13 home runs and a .608 slugging percentage allowed in 41 2/3 innings at Coors Field.

Conversely, Wood has excelled on the road this season, entering Thursday with a 5-2 record and 2.43 ERA in 10 road starts, compared to 1-3 with a 5.18 ERA in six starts at Turner Field.

“Yeah, he’s been very, very good on the road,” Kelly Johnson said. “Recently, all of it (home and road). It would’ve been a good way to come in and get some momentum in the series. But, shoot, hopefully no more rain.”

“It’s just weird. You take everything into account, that was just a weird night.

Former Braves pitcher David Hale replaced Kendrick to start the second inning. Hale allowed one hit in 1 2/3 innings before leaving the game with what was diagnosed as a mild left groin strain.

Rockies 5, Braves 3

By David O'Brien - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

How the game was won: After a rain delay lasting more than two hours in the bottom of the first inning forced Braves starter Alex Wood out of the game, the Rockies scored four runs in the first and second innings against reliever Jake Brigham and went on to a 5-3 in a series opener at Coors Field. The Braves’ Jace Peterson had a two-run double in a three-run fifth inning, making him 8-for-12 in bases-loaded situations with four extra-base hits and 20 RBIs.

Number: 2. Pitches thrown by Wood before he left during the long rain delay. He became just the second major leaguer pitcher in six years to make a start without throwing a strike. The Royals’ Danny Duffy threw one pitch in a September 2014 against the Yankees before leaving with an injury.

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What’s next: The Braves and Rockies play the second game of a four-game series, with Shelby Miller (5-4, 2.07 ERA) facing a Rockies starter to be determined. David Hale had been scheduled to start, but the Rockies used him Thursday after the extended first-inning rain delay. Hale left with a groin strain after pitching 1 2/3 innings.

Pierzynski has been all production, not disruption

By David O’Brien

DENVER – When the Braves signed 38-year-old catcher A.J. Pierzynski to a one-year, $2 million contract on Dec. 24, many people questioned or criticized the move, and some acted as if the team had just given itself a figurative lump of coal on Christmas Eve.

The 18-year veteran was coming off a career-worst season in which Pierzynski batted just .251 with five homers, 37 RBIs and a .337 slugging percentage in a career-low 274 plate appearances for Boston and St. Louis.

Why the Braves would sign a veteran who not only appeared to be in decline, but who also came with a reputation for being an occasionally disruptive clubhouse presence, for rubbing not just opponents the wrong way but also plenty of teammates over the years?

Four months later, the move looked shrewd when Pierzynski, after a strong spring training, hit .422 with three homers and 14 RBIs in 12 April games, splitting the catching duties with rookie Christian Bethancourt instead of serving as the expected backup to the promising prospect. Six months later, the move looks like one of the key reasons the Braves have managed to stay near .500 in a rebuilding – or retooling, as they prefer – season.

“A.J.’s been great, in every sense of the word,” Braves assistant general manager John Coppolella said. “He’s been great offensively, great defensively, he’s helped our young pitchers, he made a lot of efforts to help out Christian Bethancourt…. I can’t say enough about what he’s done for the Braves this year.”

Bethancourt didn’t do much in the spring or in April to persuade the coaching staff that he deserved to play more, and eventually he would make enough defensive mistakes that the Braves decided to demote him to Triple-A, and they would try out a couple of different backups for Pierzynski before settling on Ryan Lavarnway.

Meanwhile, Pierzynski has settled into the familiar role of primary catcher, something that he didn’t think he’d be doing this year, but something he’s done quite well. He’s below average throwing out runners, but Braves coaches and pitchers say Pierzynski more than makes up for that deficiency with his game-calling ability, especially handling a pitching staff that’s even younger than the Braves anticipated it would be this season.

Offensively, Pierzynski has surpassed expectations and gotten back to doing what he’s done most of his career, batting .289 with 25 extra-base hits (six homers) and 29 RBIs in 57 games, with a .323 OBP and .455 slugging percentage in 211 at-bats. His .778 OPS ranks fourth in the National League among catchers with at least 200 plate appearances.

“He’s a guy that puts the ball in play,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “My dad told me, you put the ball in play, you’ve got a chance of the ball finding holes. And he’s doing that right now. And he’s also hitting the ball out of the ballpark…. He’s a good baseball player. He’s a guy who, whenever he gets done playing, he can be in this game for a long time. Because he’s got good baseball smarts, good baseball instincts.”

Pierzynski slumped in May after his sizzling April, but in his past 29 games before Thursday’s series opener at Colorado, he hit .324 (34-for-105) with 13 extra-base hits, a .349 OBP and .514 slugging percentage. That included a stunning 10-for-13 in his last three games, with three doubles and a triple.

“I don’t even try to think about it,” Pierzynski said of being on such a hot hitting streak. “I’m just going up there trying to hit the ball, I’m not even thinking about anything else. First at-bat (Tuesday at Milwaukee), I hit a home run on a change-up; I thought it was a fastball. I don’t even know what I’m doing. I’m just trying to get a good pitch and put a good swing on it, and whatever happens, happens.”

It was easy this winter to overlook, given his falloff in 2014, that Pierzynski had two of his best seasons in 2012-2013, batting .275 with 91 extra-base hits (44 homers), 147 RBIs and a .462 slugging percentage in 269 games with the White Sox (2012) and Rangers (2013).

Before and immediately after the signing of Pierzynski, even some Braves coaches and others in the organization wondered whether it was a wise move. They didn’t know about bringing in the brash, sometimes-volatile veteran to serve as a backup and mentor to rookie catcher Christian Bethancourt, who was finally going to get his chance to hold nail down the starting job at the big-league level.

And then the Braves signed another fiery veteran, Jonny Gomes, in January, prompting one national baseball writer who had known both of them for many years to predict that Pierzynski and Gomes would come to blows before the All-Star break.

They haven’t. In fact, while they aren’t close friends, they can often be seen at one or the other’s lockers on the road, showing one another something on a smartphone. Behind the scenes, they talk enough to make sure the right things are being said and done to keep the good clubhouse vibe the Braves have had since spring training.

Gomes was asked about Pierzynski this week in Milwaukee, and thought for a moment before giving his answer.

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“First of all, he’s climbing all-time lists (for catchers),” Gomes said. “Not climbing (the list of) a league or a team – like, history of the game type stuff. Any time you do anything in this game, when you’re ranking among all-timers, impressive is kind of an understatement. If you were to sum up what he’s done this year, I think it’s just pretty much par for the course for what he’s done for 15 years.

“What he’s done this year doesn’t really surprise me by any means. But on the other side of it, there is a human element to this game. There is a decline, especially at that position. So, again, definitely very impressed.”

Gomes, who has been the heart and soul of the team since the day he arrived at spring training, was asked about Pierzynski and what a fit he’s been guiding so many rookies and other young pitchers this season.

“I think what’s extremely helpful with the young pitching is not so much a defensive catcher and not so much the captain, but simply a guy back there that knows the hitters,” Gomes said. “Like, ‘This might be your third-best pitch, but I need you to throw it here.’ And the pitcher on the mound is probably thinking, ‘No chance, this is my go-to (pitch).’ So for him to get that trust from these young guys – which he should get, because it has succeeded with the young arms.”

Rookie Manny Banuelos, who had a 29-pitch first inning in his second major league start at Milwaukee this week, said that Pierzynski helped him get on track by telling him how to get into a rhythm, not take so much time between pitches. And to use all his pitches, not make it easy on the Brewers by throwing fastballs when they were clearly expecting them and being aggressive swinging at them.

“I have a lot of confidence with A.J. behind the plate,” said Banuelos, who is 1-0 with a 0.82 ERA after two starts. “Every pitch he calls, I have confidence to throw it.”

While some others weren’t sure about the Braves’ winter pursuit of Pierzynski, president of baseball operations John Hart felt strongly that he was the right guy. Hart had known Pierzynski for more than 20 years, they were now neighbors in Orlando, and he didn’t doubt that Pierzynski could be on his best behavior and give the Braves just what they were looking for.

Hart was confident that Pierzynski, one of the best-hitting catchers in baseball over 14 full seasons he’d spent in the majors, would be a good fit, that he would help bring an edge that last year’s team lacked.

Equally important was this: Hart said that Bethancourt would not be simply given the job, that he would have to prove he was ready and perform in the primary role. And if he didn’t, then Hart wanted to make sure he had a veteran who could step up and catch 100 or so games instead of the typical 30-40 that most backup catchers handle.

It didn’t take long for the move to look like a wise one, when Pierzynski had a big spring training and then an even bigger April, getting more of the playing time because his bat was too hot to keep out of the lineup and Bethancourt hadn’t made the strides that the Braves wanted the kid to make behind the plate and calling games.

As for that potential personality clash, between Pierzynski and Gomes or Pierzynski and anyone else, it’s just not been an issue.

“I’ve been watching that carefully,” Gonzalez said. “It’s one of those things where you kind of hate the guy across the way, but when he’s your teammate you like him. People say, ‘He’s an (jerk).’ My response to that, ‘Yeah, but he’s my (jerk).’ You know what? He wants to win, and he’s got a little edge. I think you know where you stand with him. He’s the same way every day.

“I’ve enjoyed him. He’s been really good. I lay out (the schedule) exactly – you’re going to play here, day off here. That’s what he wants. And he’s been great. He really has.”

Pierzynski in the past was known to fly off the handle and get in the faces of teammates, or say something to make them want to get in his face. The Braves haven’t seen that.

“I’m from the side of things of like, my friend roster is packed,” Gomes said. “I don’t need another friend. I’m not looking for another friend. If you do have a strong personality and you do have … however you want to describe the attitude or whatever, if you bring it every day, the guys around you are going to have to adjust. But when you’re moody — when you’re chatty Patty one day, and then you’re not — then there’s a grey area.

“The A.J. Pierzynski we see, from the first day in Orlando, is the same. So I think that’s where things sometimes get a little grey. You have to adjust around people, and when you start asking people to adjust around you, that’s when things start to get grey. I mean, he’s the same personality when I played with him in Boston. But personality and attitude is not very high on the list of things I’m looking for to try to win a ballgame. This is a results-driven industry. Results. And they’re definitely there with him behind the plate.”

Gomes was asked if Pierzynski’s desire to win has superseded anything else.

“Yeah, similar to me — when winning is first, second and third on your to-do list on an every-day basis, you need that guy,” Gomes said. “Everything else is just going to fall in place.”

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Maybin playing way Padres once envisioned

By David O'Brien - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

DENVER - When the Braves traded Craig Kimbrel and Melvin Upton Jr. to the Padres on the eve of opening day, the only thing most Braves fans liked about the deal was dumping Upton.

Some others understood the Braves got a very good pitching prospect in Matt Wisler in the deal. But very few — including the Braves themselves, truth be told — were real excited about taking on the contracts of outfielders Carlos Quentin, who was immediately DFA’d by the Braves and has since retired, and Cameron Maybin, whose recent performance didn’t match his salary for 2015-2016.

But the Padres had insisted the Braves take those contracts if San Diego was going to swallow Upton’s onerous deal.

Three months later, the Braves are quite pleased the Padres insisted they take Maybin. Because Maybin and second baseman Jace Peterson, another former Padre acquired in another Braves offseason trade involving another Upton, have been the most pleasant surprises among the position players brought in during a frenetic five months of Braves personnel moves.

Maybin entered Thursday with a .295 average, eight home runs, 43 RBIs, 15 stolen bases and a .362 on-base percentage in 76 games. He’s playing the way the Padres envisioned when they gave him a five-year, $25 million contract after his career-best 2011 season, when he hit .264 with nine homers, 40 RBIs and 40 stolen bases.

His average and OBP slipped to .243/.306 in 2012, though he still had eight homers, 45 RBIs and 26 seals. But in injury-plagued 2013 and 2014 seasons, Maybin hit a combined .222 with just two homers, 20 RBIs, eight stolen bases and a .280 OBP in 109 games.

The Padres packaged him in the Kimbrel deal, shedding the salaries Maybin was owed for 2015 ($7 million) and 2016 ($8 million), plus a $9 million option for 2017 that has a $1 million buyout. Now he’s playing so well, those salaries now look reasonable.

In his past 62 games before Thursday, he hit .320 with five homers, 38 RBIs and a .385 OBP and a .437 slugging percentage, including 11-for-26 (.423) with two doubles, a triple, two homers and six RBIs in the past five games.

Maybin had a three-run homer Wednesday at Milwaukee and ranked fourth in the NL with a .412 average with runners in scoring position, behind teammate Freddie Freeman (.418) and ahead of Andrew McCutchen (.403).

“He’s a guy who’s maturing, and he’s healthy,” said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez, who had a skinnier, far-less-productive Maybin on his Marlins teams for parts of the 2008-2010 seasons. “He’s grown up in the big leagues, so the stuff that everybody wanted to see, the five tools? They’re coming now. Some people want it at 21, 21, some people develop that a little later in their career.”

Braves sign top draft pick Kolby Allard

By David O'Brien - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

DENVER – It took a little longer than the Braves expected, but they finally have a contract agreement with their top draft pick.

Kolby Allard, the 17-year-old California left-hander selected by the Braves with the No. 14 pick in last month’s draft, agreed to terms Thursday on a bonus of $3,042,000, which was $200,000 above the assigned slot value for that pick.

“While we do have an agreement in place, it won’t be finalized until he completes a physical next week,” Braves assistant general manager John Coppolella said.

Allard missed most of his senior season with a stress fracture in his back, but has been throwing for more than two months.

He was the only unsigned draft pick among the Braves’ top 25, and one of only two from the top 15 overall picks in the draft who had not signed before Thursday. The signing deadline is July 17.

It was Allard, not the Braves, who broke the news when he posted on his Twitter account late Thursday afternoon: “Headin’ out to #BravesCountry in a couple of days. Let the journey begin!!! #CHOPNation.”

The Braves believed on draft night that Allard would sign quickly. The pitcher told reporters minutes after he was picked, ““We haven’t agreed on money as far as I know, but I don’t think that’s going to be much of a problem.” He had an oral commitment to attend UCLA, but Allard made it clear in early talks with Braves officials that he was eager to start his professional baseball career, not a college career.

Some draft analysts said he would have been the top high-school pitcher in the draft, and a top-10 draft selection, if not for the injury

Allard, represented by Casey Close of Excel Sports Management, will get a bonus larger than three players selected above him: the Nos. 9, 12 and 13 picks.

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He entered his senior season as a first-team Perfect Game preseason All-American and has what Braves scouting director Brian Bridges called one of, if not the best curveball in the draft, to complement a low- to mid-90s fastball. He pitched only seven innings as a senior before the injury in mid-March.

Allard, who is listed at 6 feet 1 and 180 pounds, has been throwing for more than two months and is said to be fully recovered from the injury.

He’ll be joined in the Braves minor league system by his close friend and San Clemente High School batterymate, catcher Lucas Herbert, whom the Braves drafted in the second round with the 54th pick. Herbert signed for $1,125,200.

If not for a stress fracture in Allard’s lower back that ended his senior season after it barely began, the Braves thought there was no way he would’ve been still available in the middle of the first round.

Allard entered the season as a first-team Perfect Game preseason All-American and has what Bridges called one of, if not the best curveball in the draft to complement a low- to mid-90s fastball. He missed most of the season with the injury, pitching only seven innings and allowing a .143 batting average before he was hurt in mid-March.

As a 16-year-old junior, Allard had a 1.32 ERA and struck out 98 in 63 2/3 innings with 17 walks. He has a developing changeup to go with his outstanding curveball.

Suspended McKirahan rehabs in Gwinnett

By Matthew Bain - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Rookie reliever Andrew McKirahan is set to return to the Braves on July 20 after serving his 80-game suspension for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

He last pitched in the bigs in Toronto on April 19 — the day he learned of his suspension and spoiled his teammates’ celebration after a 5-2 win.

“It was something obviously that was difficult to do,” McKirahan, 25, said Wednesday. “But it was something I felt I had to do as a man and a professional baseball player. To tell the truth, to lay it all out there and let (the team) know that I made a mistake and move forward.”

The suspension, which the commissioner’s office levied April 20, stemmed from a drug test McKirahan took while he was with the Marlins in spring training. He said Wednesday he didn’t knowingly take the banned substance, Ipamorelin.

“I was in spring training, and I was going through a little dead arm, and I used a cream that I shouldn’t have used, obviously,” he said. “It happened to have a peptide in it that they test for. It was a careless mistake of mine and something that I learned from. So, it wasn’t like I went out there and shot myself up with steroids or anything else and tried to get an extra leg up. It was a careless mistake and something that I’ll definitely learn from and pay a lot more attention to.”

McKirahan currently plays for Triple-A Gwinnett. Players are granted 16 days of minor-league rehab assignment during their suspension. He’s pitched twice since arriving July 4, allowing no runs on three hits and striking one over two innings.

Before landing in Gwinnett, he threw simulated games for the Braves’ Gulf Coast League affiliate in Orlando, Fla., where he said he stayed sharp against the younger hitters and learned to relax more on the mound.

But it’s nice to prep for a big-league return against guys who didn’t recently graduate high school.

“It’s obviously different (in Gwinnett), being in a game environment,” McKirahan said. “You have a lot of experienced hitters, so I think the next couple weeks will really help me to be ready to join up with the big-league team.”

The Braves claimed McKirahan off waivers from the Marlins on April 1 after he spent four years in the Cubs’ farm system, missing parts of 2012-13 with Tommy John surgery.

He pitched in three games this season before the suspension, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out two over 4 1/3 innings. The Braves needed a lefty arm to ease Luis Avilan’s workload, and McKirahan was making a solid case for the job.

Then the commissioner’s office called.

“(A suspension) really humbles you as a person,” McKirahan said. “When you’re doing something that you love and you make it to the highest level for the first time, and then two weeks later it’s all taken away. You really come down to earth, and yeah, it puts everything in perspective. You realize how lucky you are to be there and you do everything you can to not take it for granted.”

The Braves still haven’t found that other lefty, forcing Avilan into a league-high 44 games. Manny Banuelos, who likely will go to the bullpen when Williams Perez is healthy, could be the solution. But adding McKirahan’s arm to the mix doesn’t hurt.

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McKirahan was a Rule 5 draft selection in December, so he must stay on a major-league roster the entire season. Or, if the Braves don’t want him, they must offer him back to the Cubs for half his original $50,000 claiming price.

Former Braves Beachy and Medlen are nearing a return

By Mark Bradley

Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy, both Atlanta Braves starting pitchers, hurt their arms on consecutive days in spring 2014, necessitating a second Tommy John surgery for each. According to Jon Roegele’s comprehensive spreadsheet of TJ procedures, the Round 2s for Medlen and Beachy were performed three days apart. (Though by different doctors. Medlen went with James Andrews, Beachy with Neal ElAttrache.)

The recovery period for TJ is between 12 and 18 months. For Medlen and Beachy, it’s approaching 16 months. Sure enough, both are in line to return to the majors soon, neither as a Brave. Steve Dilbeck of the Los Angeles Times reports that Dodgers manager Don Mattingly has identified Beachy as a candidate to start Saturday’s game against Milwaukee.

Beachy has made five minor-league starts for the Dodgers, working 18 2/3 innings while yielding 18 hits and 10 walks. (This against 12 strikeouts.) His ERA is 2.45. In his last start, Beachy threw 92 pitches, some of them with apparent oomph.

Medlen has made four minor-league starts for the Royals, working 17 2/3 innings while yielding 18 hits and three walks. He has been touched for five home runs and hit four batters. His ERA is 4.58. This week Jeffrey Flanagan of the Kansas City Star tweeted:

The Braves cut Medlen and Beachy on the same day — Dec. 2, 2014 — because they weren’t sure what they’d be getting if they kept them. Guys tend to do well after Round 1 of TJ; they do much less well after Round 2. (Think Jonny Venters.) There’s thought that a guy coming off a second TJ won’t hold up as a starter, that any future will have to be as a reliever. (Think Jason Isringhausen, who went from being a promising starter to a splendid closer until he hurt his arm yet again.)

Had the Braves retained Medlen and Beachy, they’d have been obliged to pay at least $5.8 million — and perhaps much more, seeing as both were arbitration-eligible — for two suspect arms. Not that those arms hadn’t done terrific work here. In 2012, Medlen was 10-1 with a 1.57 ERA and an 0.913 WHIP. He didn’t make his first start of that season until July 31 because he was recovering from TJ Take 1, and a spot in the rotation was available in part because Beachy, who’d been leading the majors with a 2.00 ERA, was lost to TJ Take 1 on June 16.

Beachy signed with the Dodgers for one year at $2.75 million with a club option for next season. Medlen signed with the Royals for $2 million this season and $5.5 million next, with a mutual option for 2017. You can’t blame the rebuilding Braves for not wanting to commit such money to two guys who wouldn’t have been available until midsummer and whose health comes with no guarantees. (Not that anyone’s health ever does.)

But you’d have to say the two were most astute in picking their next teams. The Dodgers and Royals are in first place. The Dodgers and Royals also have holes in their rotations. There’s a chance we’ll be hearing a lot more about Beachy and Medlen before this season is done.

Friday’s game: Braves at Rockies

By Carroll Rogers Walton - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Where: Coors Field, Denver

When: 8:10 p.m.

TV; radio: FSSO; 680, 93.7, 106.7

Probable starting pitchers: Braves RH Shelby Miller (5-4, 2.07) vs. RH David Hale (2-4, 5.89)

What’s new: Even as the offense has been inconsistent with Freddie Freeman on the DL, Braves starters are doing the job. Entering this series, Braves starters had posted a 2.80 ERA (38 earned runs in 122 innings) over 20 games since June 17. Starters struck out 99 and walked only 34 over that stretch, and allowed only nine home runs. After Arodys Vizcaino and David Carpenter joined the Braves bullpen in Milwaukee, the Braves had used 49 different players this season, one shy of the Braves franchise record of 50. The Braves will miss Freeman even a little more against the Rockies. He has hit .318 against the Rockies for his career, with 11 home runs and 27 RBIs in 29 games.

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MiLB.com

Jenkins makes it even 100 in Gwinnett debut

Braves right-hander tosses seven scoreless frames in Triple-A bow

By Sam Dykstra / MiLB.com

Tyrell Jenkins didn't have to be told or reminded about his achievement Thursday. No, not his Triple-A Gwinnett debut -- that was obvious enough. Rather, it was his innings count that made an already noteworthy achievement all the better.

After two straight seasons limited by the shoulder surgery he underwent in 2013, the 22-year-old right-hander, playing in his first season with the Braves following an offseason trade with the Cardinals, had finally hit 100 innings for the first time in his six-year Minor League career.

"I got 100 innings, it's pretty special," said Jenkins. "Now, I just want to hit 200."

The Braves' No. 10 prospect reached triple-digits for the first time by tossing seven innings Thursday in his Gwinnett debut to lead the Braves to a 1-0 win over Norfolk at Coolray Field. He allowed seven hits and one walk in that span while striking out six Tides.

"Today went well, I thought," Jenkins said. "For me, it didn't really matter much whether I was going to pitch seven scoreless or allow 15 in seven. I felt today was going to take its course. I just wanted to help my team stay in the game. ... I just wanted to stay within myself and treat this like another day in [Double-A] Mississippi. I made some good pitches that way. My fastball was good. My changeup was hitting my spots, and thanks to all that, I was able to string together seven zeros."

The 6-foot-4 hurler struck out Tides leadoff hitter Henry Urrutia on three pitches to start his International League career and cruised through the early innings. He first encountered trouble in the fourth when back-to-back singles by Dariel Alvarez and Sean Halton gave the Tides their first runner in scoring position. Jenkins then forced Michael Almanzar to fly out to right and Audry Perez to ground out to third to end the threat and indicated that's when he started to feel comfortable in his new environment.

"I never took it for granted," he said. "I knew it was going to be a little bit different the second time through, because once they see you for the first time, they get an idea of what you're doing and they can figure you out. So I just wanted to keep them off balance and get some big outs."

A similar scenario played out again in the seventh when a Julio Borbon bunt single gave Norfolk two runners on with just one out. Pitching coach Marty Reed visited Jenkins on the mound with a helpful hunch and a reminder to focus.

"He had told me they were struggling against me, so maybe they'd try to run and double steal," Jenkins said. "He wanted me to keep that runner in my back pocket and keep him in mind. But if I was going to throw a fastball, don't just groove it either. Make sure it hits the spot."

The result: two harmless fly outs to center by Sharlon Schoop and Urrutia.

"I knew the leadoff guy was probably my last hitter either way," said Jenkins, who finished with 98 pitches, 62 for strikes. "So I wanted to make sure I got him and got out of there. Seven innings look a whole lot better than 6 2/3 does."

The gem was just the latest strong start in what's been a dream first season in the Braves system for the Texas native. Jenkins was a Southern League midseason All-Star and went 5-5 with a 3.00 ERA, 59 strikeouts and 41 walks in 93 innings for Atlanta's Double-A affiliate before being promoted to Triple-A on Wednesday.

When the Braves acquired Jenkins and Shelby Miller in the deal that sent Jason Heyward and Jordan Walden to the Cardinals back in November, there were questions about whether the youngest player in the trade would, first, be healthy and, second, show he could meet the high-ceiling potential he hinted since being taken 50th overall back in 2010.

Thursday's start went a long way toward ticking both of those boxes.

"This has been the best season I've had as a professional by far," Jenkins said.

The Braves grabbed their only run of the game in the fourth inning when an Adonis Garca groundout scored Joey Terdoslavich from third. The win snapped Gwinnett's six-game losing streak.

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Atlanta Business Chronicle

Shake Shack eyes spot at SunTrust Park

Amy Wenk

One of the hottest burger joints in the country is eyeing a spot at the Atlanta Braves’ new home.

New York City-based Shake Shack Inc. (NYSE: SHAK) is in talks for a location at SunTrust Park, according to sources familiar with the deal. A lease is not yet signed.

A Braves spokeswoman said the team could not comment on prospective restaurant tenants.

Shake Shack, which calls itself a “modern day roadside burger stand,” was founded by Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group LLC. The business started as a hot dog cart. Today, there are more than 60 locations across the globe.

Shake Shack opened its first Atlanta restaurant last fall in the Buckhead Atlanta development and instantly drew long lines of customers.

The company certainly seems poised for growth. An initial public offering earlier this year raised $105 million.

Shake Shack has said its overall goal in the U.S. is to open 10 company-operated stores each year starting in 2015, growing to as many as 450 locations in coming years. Atlanta is among markets the company is targeting.

Shake Shack is no stranger to the ballpark environment. In 2009, it opened at Citi Field, home of the New York Mets. In 2011, it came to Nationals Park in Washington D.C. Condé Nast Travelerrecently featured Shake Shack on its list of “Best Baseball Stadium Food.”

SunTrust Park is set to open in 2017.

The Braves recently announced MillerCoors as its official beer partner at SunTrust Park. The sponsorship includes a new Chop House led by Coors Light, prominent signage and branded entertainment throughout the surrounding stadium development in Cobb.

Little else has been revealed about the mix of restaurants at the ballpark.

Associated Press

Gonzalez hits 3 doubles, Rockies top Braves 5-3

By MICHAEL KELLY (Associated Press)

DENVER (AP) -- David Hale didn't get the reunion he expected but he got the win he wanted for the Colorado Rockies.

Hale pitched 1 2-3 innings of emergency relief before leaving with a mild left groin strain, and the Rockies beat the Atlanta Braves 5-3 on a rain-soaked Thursday night.

Troy Tulowitzki singled to extend his hitting streak to 21 games - longest in the majors this season. Carlos Gonzalez and Nolan Arenado had three hits each for the second consecutive night for the Rockies, who dealt with another weather delay at home.

''It's crazy,'' Gonzalez said. ''It's almost the All-Star break and it's still raining and 60 degrees.''

A heavy rainstorm came through two pitches into the bottom of the first inning and sent the players and fans scurrying for shelter. The delay lasted 2 hours, 6 minutes, and ended the night early for both starters.

''Groundskeepers did a nice job of getting that game in,'' Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez said. ''That field was almost getting unplayable and they got the game in.''

Hale, the scheduled starter Friday for Colorado, was told during the rain delay he would come on for starter Kyle Kendrick when play resumed. Hale, who was with the Braves the last two seasons before an offseason trade brought him to the Rockies, was prepared to face his former teammates Friday night.

''Today did not go exactly the way I wanted it to go, but I kind of liked it,'' he said. ''I did all my homework and today was just going over everything. It was a bit of an adrenaline rush relieving today.''

Hale (3-4) singled in the second and tweaked his groin scoring on Tulowitzki's sacrifice fly. He faced three batters in the third before exiting.

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''I'm not used to running that far,'' he said. ''You just have to wait a little bit and get past that initial soreness. It just feels tight and bruised.''

Jace Peterson had two hits and two RBIs, and Chris Johnson had three hits for the Braves.

Jake Brigham (0-1) relieved Atlanta starter Alex Wood after play resumed, and the Rockies jumped on the rookie with three doubles in the first to take a 2-0 lead. Drew Stubbs homered ahead of Tulowitzki's sacrifice fly as Colorado took a 4-0 lead.

Tulowitzki singled in the fourth to reach base for the 36th straight game.

Peterson had a two-run double as part of a three-run fifth to trim the deficit to a run. Colorado got one back on Nick Hundley's RBI double in the bottom of the inning to make it 5-3.

John Axford, Colorado's eighth pitcher, struck out Peterson for his 15th save.

''When David went down we were in a tough spot, but the bullpen was huge tonight,'' Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. ''We had to empty the well pretty much.''

The strong storm threatened to take the tarp as the grounds crew tried to lay it across the infield. Hale and a few other Rockies players - as well as Weiss and first base coach Eric Young - ran out from the dugout to help secure the tarp along the baselines.

Rain fell throughout the game and only a few fans in the announced crowd of 30,334 stuck around for the end. It was a familiar sight at Coors Field, which has endured 14 weather delays totaling 22 hours, 24 minutes, this season - not counting four postponements.

BACK ON THE MOUND

Bad weather spoiled Wood's start but he won't have to wait long to pitch again. Fredi Gonzalez said Wood will now start Sunday for the Braves, ensuring he won't lose a turn in the rotation.

''I was pretty surprised that they wanted us to start (Thursday's) game, but that's the way it goes,'' Wood said. ''You've just got to deal with it and move on. I look forward to taking the ball on Sunday.''

HEATING UP

Carlos Gonzalez struggled to find his form this year after knee surgery ended his 2014 season after 70 games. He said he's feeling stronger and has raised his average to .254 with a solid June and consecutive three-hit games.

''Finally I'm getting my timing back, which was the biggest key for me,'' he said. ''That's what I've been looking for since I had my surgery. The past two years I haven't played a lot of baseball. The more I play the more comfortable I'm going to feel.''

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rockies: OF Corey Dickerson (left plantar fasciitis) has started some light running but there's no timetable for his return. He has been on the 15-day DL twice for the injury.

UP NEXT

Braves: All-Star RHP Shelby Miller (5-4, 2.07 ERA) is 2-0 with a 2.04 ERA in three starts against the Rockies. He has allowed four earned runs in 17 2-3 innings.

Rockies: Colorado needs to pick a new Friday night starter instead of Hale

Braves-Rockies Preview

By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO (STATS Writer)

Shelby Miller's win-loss record doesn't do justice to how well he's been pitching for the Atlanta Braves and it didn't prevent him from being named to his first All-Star Game.

Besieged by a lack of run support, Miller again seeks his first win in nearly eight weeks Friday night against the Colorado Rockies.

Miller (5-4, 2.07 ERA) has the majors' third-best ERA but has the fewest wins of any pitcher in the top nine of that category. The right-hander has also tossed two shutouts, tying Washington's Max Scherzer for the most in the NL.

He'll join Scherzer at Tuesday's All-Star Game in Cincinnati as the only representative for the Braves (42-44).

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"Honestly, when you hear it for the first time, it's pretty awesome," Miller told MLB's official website. "You set goals for yourself every season and this is one of the goals and stepping stones that you want to have at the end of the year.

"I'm just grateful for the opportunity. It's an amazing experience."

The same can't be said of Miller's last nine starts. He has compiled a 2.80 ERA but is 0-3 since he's been backed by seven total runs - none in four straight games.

Miller scattered seven hits with eight strikeouts before leaving with one out in the seventh of Sunday's 4-0 loss in 10 to Philadelphia.

"I'm just trying to go out there and pitch," Miller said. "Whether we score eight runs or one, it doesn't matter. We're just trying to win."

He's 2-0 with a 2.04 ERA in three career starts against the Rockies (36-49).

Miller has held Troy Tulowitzki, Nolan Arenado andCarlos Gonzalez to a combined 1 for 13. However, they enter this matchup hot, totaling seven hits - four doubles - as Colorado beat Atlanta 5-3 in the rain-soaked opener of this four-game set Thursday.

Tulowitzki is hitting .354 during a 21-game hitting streak, the longest in the majors this year. Arenado and Gonzalez, meanwhile, have six hits each in two games.

The Rockies were supposed to send David Hale to the mound for the first time against his former team, but he replaced Thursday's starter Kyle Kendrick after the first inning following a rain delay of 2 hours, 6 minutes.

Hale, however, left with a groin injury after just 1 2-3 scoreless innings.

Colorado hasn't named a starter for Friday, but Jorge De La Rosa (6-3, 4.46) could be moved up one day from his scheduled start.

The left-hander has struggled greatly at home, going 2-2 with a 6.81 ERA in eight starts while winning four straight on the road behind a 0.99 ERA.

His last two starts have come away from Coors Field. He was staked to a four-run lead before even taking the mound at Arizona on Sunday, and allowed two runs in six-plus innings of a 6-4 win.

"The only thing I try to do is give the team the best chance to win, keep games close and wait for the guys to start hitting," De La Rosa said.

He is 1-1 with an 8.04 ERA in three career starts against Atlanta, but this is his first since July 29, 2013.

The Braves' Chris Johnson is a career .389 hitter against the Rockies and is 13 for 24 in his last six matchups after getting three hits Thursday.