Braves fall to wild tie with Mets, lose 3-1 to Rockies, Toglia, Tovar hit home runs

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves found themselves in a tie for the final NL wild-card spot with a 3-1 loss to Colorado on Thursday night, with Michael Toglia and Ezequiel Tovar hitting solo home runs for the Rockies.

Both Atlanta and New York are 76-64 with 22 games remaining, eight games behind NL East leader Philadelphia.

“It’s frustrating when we can’t score runs, especially when we’re off to a good start,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “It’s just frustrating that we couldn’t get anything done.”

Austin Gomber (5-10) allowed one run and five hits in eight innings, tying his season high, while striking out six and issuing no walks.

“He had a good fastball, in and out, up and down,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “Good hook, good changeup, good slider. He threw really well. Whether it’s the best pitch he’s thrown this year, it’s right up there with him.”

Tyler Kinley threw a perfect ninth inning for his ninth save in 10 opportunities to help Colorado avoid a three-game losing streak and end an eight-game losing streak at Truist Park.

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

Colorado faced a minimum of 24 batters over the final eight innings. Marcell Ozuna was the only Atlanta batter to reach the plate during that time when he singled in the sixth inning, and Matt Olson followed suit with a double grounder to end the inning.

“We can’t find a place to keep anything going,” Snitker said. “The starting pitching we’re getting is just so good. The bullpen guys have been really good.”

López (8-5) gave up both solo home runs and five hits in six innings, recording 11 strikeouts and no walks.

“I’m trying to keep the team within striking distance to win the game, but I didn’t fulfill the goal because the goal is to win the game,” he said through an interpreter. “Although it’s nice to throw guys out and get deep into the game, it’s ultimately ruined if you don’t win the game.”

Ramón Laureano had an RBI single in the first inning.

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

Tovar hit a home run in the sixth inning, over the Rockies bullpen and into the left-field stands. Toglia and Tovar are tied with Brenton Doyle for the team lead with 22 home runs each.

Toglia reached base against Luke Jackson, stole second base and continued to third base on an errant throw by catcher Sean Murphy, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Nolan Jones.

TRAINER’S OFFICE

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

What’s next?

Rockies: RHP Ryan Feltner (1-10, 11/5) will start a three-game series Friday at Milwaukee, with RHP Frankie Montas (6-9, 4.70) starting.

Braves LHP Max Fried (8-8, 3:52) will face Blue Jays RHP Kevin Gausman (12-10, 4:07) in the first of a three-game homestand on Friday.

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