OF Kemp reunited with Dodgers after trade from Braves

The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired outfielder Matt Kemp from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for four players and cash considerations, the Dodgers announced Saturday.

Heading east to Atlanta are first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, pitchers Scott Kazmir and Brandon McCarthy and infielder Charlie Culberson.

MLB.com reported the Braves have already designated Gonzalez for assignment.

Kemp, 33, is reunited with the Dodgers. He played for them from 2006-14, hitting 182 home runs, which is fourth in Dodgers' history. Last season, he hit .276 with 19 homers, 64 RBIs and 23 doubles in 115 games for the Braves.

Gonzalez, 35, was acquired by the Dodgers from the Boston Red Sox in August 2012 and was instrumental in helping Los Angeles win five straight National League West Division titles. In 14 big league seasons, the five-time All-Star has hit .288 with 2,010 hits, 311 homers and 1,176 RBI while playing in 1,875 games.

Kazmir, 33, was signed to a three-year contract with Los Angeles before the 2016 season and went 10-6 with a 4.56 ERA in 26 starts during his first season with the Dodgers. He did not pitch last year due to a hip injury.

McCarthy, 34, signed a four-year deal with the Dodgers in December 2014 and in his three seasons with Los Angeles, went 11-7 with a 4.51 ERA in 29 starts. The right-hander missed most of 2015 and 2016 after undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2015.

Culberson, 28, appeared in 49 regular season games over the last two seasons with the Dodgers and made postseason rosters following each campaign.

Notebook: Braves lose 13 players for illegal signings; Judge should be ready for camp after shoulder surgery

Major League Baseball came down hard on the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday for multiple violations of the international amateur signing rules, making 13 players who had previously signed with the organization free agents.

MLB will also dock the Braves a third-round pick in the 2018 amateur draft after the team offered extra benefits to 41st overall pick Drew Waters last year. Waters, however, will be able to remain with Atlanta.

The league determined that the Braves had packaged international signing bonuses during the two-year signing period from 2016-18, which is in violation of MLB rules.

MLB stated that Juan Contreras, Yefri del Rosario, Abrahan Gutierrez, Kevin Maitan, Juan Carlos Negret, Yenci Pena, Yunior Severino, Livan Soto, Guillermo Zuniga, Brandol Mezquita, Angel Rojas and Antonio Sucre were illegally signed during the two-year span.

The scandal cost former Braves general manager John Coppolella and team scout Gordon Blakeley their jobs and also led to the resignation of Atlanta president of baseball operations John Hart.

Judge has shoulder surgery; should be ready by camp

After insisting during a summer slump that he was not ailing, Yankees slugger Aaron Judge had arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder.

The operation was performed Monday by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles. The Yankees said Tuesday the procedure involved a loose-body removal and cartilage cleanup and Judge should be recovered ahead of spring training.

The 25-year-old Judge hit .284 with 52 homers and 114 RBIs in 155 games this season, helping the Yankees advance to the AL Championship Series, where they lost to the eventual World Series champion Astros. He was a unanimous selection for AL Rookie of the Year and finished second to Houston infielder Jose Altuve in the AL MVP race.

Judge was hitting .329 with 30 homers and 66 RBIs at the All-Star break, then batted .179 with seven homers and 16 RBIs with 67 strikeouts in his next 44 games through the end of August.

He made several crashes into outfield walls and often was seen with packs of ice on his shoulder. While it looked as if an injury might be preventing him from swinging freely, but the right fielder and manager Joe Girardi repeatedly said his shoulder was fine.

He rebounded to bat .311 with 15 homers and 32 RBIs in the final month of the season.

Morgan says steroid users shouldn't be in HOF

Hall of Fame vice chairman Joe Morgan emailed every eligible voter from the Baseball Writers' Association of America on Tuesday, writing that "steroid users don't belong" in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Morgan's email, which he said he wrote on behalf of "many of the Hall of Famers," comes one day after the 2018 ballot was released.

"We hope the day never comes when known steroid users are voted into the Hall of Fame. They cheated. Steroid users don't belong here," wrote Morgan, a two-time National League Most Valuable Player who was voted into the Hall of Fame in 1990.

Former stars Roger Clemens (54.1 percent) and Barry Bonds (53.8 percent) received their highest vote totals last year, moving closer to the 75 percent required for enshrinement.

Braves rally past Phillies with three-run eighth

(TSX / STATS) -- ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Braves have long been eliminated from playoff consideration. But it hasn't stopped the club from continuing to weave its late-inning magic.

On Saturday, the Braves collected their league-leading 20th win in their last at-bat. And it was the rookies who came through to produce the win.

Rookie Johan Camargo delivered a pinch-hit double with two outs in the eighth inning to drive in two runs and give the Braves a 4-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday night at SunTrust Park.

"It's important for me to put in the work ethic day in and day out," Camargo said. "The other thing is I try to stay as healthy as I can and be consistent."

The Braves rallied to score three times in the eighth against reliever Luis Garcia. Matt Adams opened with a one-out single and rookie pinch-runner Micah Johnson stole second and scored on rookie Dansby Swanson's single, tying the score at 2.

Swanson went to second on the throw and rookie Rio Ruiz was intentionally walked. Both advanced on a wild pitch and scored easily when Camargo lined a 1-2 pitch in the gap in right.

The winning pitcher was left-hander Rex Brothers (4-3), who worked a scoreless eighth inning. Arodys Vizcaino pitched the ninth and struck out the side for his 13th save.

Atlanta has won four consecutive games over the Phillies after starting the season 12-2 against Philadelphia.

Garcia (2-5) had not allowed a run in his last 12 1/3 innings and gave up multiple runs in one inning for the first time since Aug. 3.

"Luis got behind on the hitters and didn't throw quality strikes," Philadelphia manager Pete Mackanin said. "He's had some good moments and some bad moments like tonight. When you're pitching in a clutch situation like that, you can't fall behind hitters. You've got to get ahead of hitters."

Phillies starter Henderson Alvarez pitched five shutout innings but failed to pick up his first victory in three years when the bullpen was unable to hold the lead. Alvarez was seeking his first major league win since Sept. 23, 2014, when he beat the Philadelphia Phillies while a member of the Miami Marlins.

"Alvarez pitched through five innings, got through it," Mackanin said. "Didn't give up a run. Ball had some movement on it, he changed speeds."

The veteran right-hander pitched five shutout innings in his second start since being recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He gave up five runs and walked three (one intentionally) and struck out two.

"That's the way baseball is sometimes," Alvarez said. "There are some things you cannot control. Just go out there and try your best."

Atlanta starter Julio Teheran received no decision. He pitched seven innings and allowed two runs (one earned), seven hits and one walk with five strikeouts. In his last six starts, Teheran has not allowed more than three runs.

"I think it was huge to be able to get out of that (seventh) inning," he said. "I wanted to try my best. I gave up one run early, but I was trying to keep the score low. I knew the guys would get some runs later."

The Braves got their first run when Ruiz hit his fourth homer in the sixth inning off Kevin Siegrist.

The Phillies got a run in the first inning. Nick Williams had a two-out single and came around to score when Rhys Hoskins doubled off the fence in center field.

Philadelphia added a run in the fifth without hitting the ball out of the infield. Maikel Franco reached on an infield single and J.P. Crawford walked. Both advanced on an infield out and Franco scored a passed ball.

The Braves had the bases loaded in the fourth inning and runners on the corners in the fifth but failed to score.

NOTES: Philadelphia broke a club record by allowing its 215th home run. The previous record was set in 2004. Kevin Siegrist allowed the tiebreaker, which was hit by Atlanta's Rio Ruiz. ... Atlanta CF Ender Inciarte had a double and needs five more hits to reach 200. ... Atlanta 1B Freddie Freeman was sick with a stomach virus and out of the lineup on Saturday. ... Atlanta signed C Kurt Suzuki to a one-year, $3.5 million contract for 2018. The club has a $4 million option on C Tyler Flowers, which the club expected to exercise. .. Atlanta signed Korean SS Jihwan Bae. He was at SunTrust Park and met with fellow countryman Hyn Soo Kim of the Phillies before the game. Bae is likened to a left-handed Trea Turner. ... Sunday will be the final game of the season at SunTrust Park. The Braves are 37-43 in their new home.

Braves pull out walk-off win over Marlins

(TSX / STATS) -- ATLANTA -- Late-inning rallies no longer surprise Atlanta manager Brian Snitker, so it was hardly a shock when his team scored two runs in the ninth inning and produced its 17th win in the final at-bat.

"These guys battle, they fight, they grind," Snitker said after the Braves beat the Miami Marlins 6-5 on Thursday. "Things haven't gone the way we want them consistently lately, but a lot of good things are happening. I've seen it many times out of this group of guys."

Kurt Suzuki's two-out single in the ninth off closer Brad Ziegler (1-4) capped Atlanta's two-run rally at SunTrust Park. It was the Braves' seventh walk-off win of the season.

"What an at-bat (for Suzuki), and that's a tough pitcher to do that against," Atlanta right fielder Jace Peterson said.

The Braves began the comeback when pinch hitter Matt Adams doubled. Pinch runner Nick Markakis scored the tying run when Ozzie Albies slapped a one-out double to right field.

After Ziegler intentionally walked Freddie Freeman and retired Lane Adams on a fielder's choice, Suzuki singled just inside the third base bag to score Freeman.

"It's just good to see guys keep fighting, keep battling," Snitker said.

The loss was the fifth straight for the Marlins, who have dropped 10 of 11.

"We haven't been playing that great the last few days, and to have a chance and not get the win makes it that much tougher," Ziegler said. "We battled back after we were down pretty late in the game. The offense gave us a chance to win, and it's frustrating to not be able to come through."

The winning pitcher was Rex Brothers (3-3), who struck out the side in the top of the ninth inning.

The Marlins rallied against reliever Jose Ramirez in the eighth to take a 5-4 lead. Brian Anderson led off by reaching on an error, a ground ball that rolled through the legs of rookie second baseman Albies. Anderson scored when Ichiro Suzuki lobbed a two-out, pinch-hit single softly into left field.

It was the 26th pinch hit of the season for Suzuki, two short of the major league record set by John Vander Wal of the Colorado Rockies in 1995.

"That's the one chance that I get," Suzuki said. "The approach hasn't changed. I do the same things I have been doing."

The Marlins tied the game with a run in the seventh off reliever Sam Freeman, who allowed his first run since July 31, a span of 16 games. Freeman walked Giancarlo Stanton and Christian Yelich, and Marcell Ozuna greeted Ramirez with an RBI single.

Ozuna led the Marlins with two hits and two RBIs, and Anderson had two hits and a walk.

Atlanta got two hits each from Ender Inciarte, Dansby Swanson, Peterson and Suzuki.

Miami starter Dan Straily allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks in five innings. He struck out three.

Atlanta's Sean Newcomb pitched five innings and allowed three runs and seven hits and three walks. He struck out five.

The Marlins put three runs on the board in the first inning. Dee Gordon led off with a triple and scored on Yelich's single. Ozuna followed with a run-scoring triple and scored on Anderson's two-out single.

Atlanta cut the lead to 3-2 in the second inning when Rio Ruiz and Swanson singled, and both came around to score on Peterson's opposite-field single to left.

The Braves took the lead by scoring twice in the fifth inning to go ahead 4-3. Inciarte tripled and scored on Albies' sacrifice fly. Matt Kemp gave the Braves the lead with a solo homer -- his 18th of the season.

The loss further damaged the chances for Miami (67-73) to make a push for the wild card. With Washington's 4-3 win in Philadelphia on Thursday, Atlanta (62-77) was officially eliminated in the NL East.

"It's definitely not for lack of effort, that's for sure," Straily said. "I've been watching this team play every single night. It's not going our way now, and we've got to find a way to turn it around quick."

NOTES: Miami 2B Dee Gordon led off the game with a triple to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. It ended Miami's streak of 22 innings without an extra-base hit. ... Miami started Brian Anderson at third base, giving Derek Dietrich the night off. Anderson singled in his first at-bat and recorded his first major league RBI. ... Atlanta RF Nick Markakis was not in the starting lineup, replaced by Jace Peterson. ... Atlanta 3B Rio Ruiz had hit safely in all six games he has played since being added to the roster on Sept. 1. ... Miami 1B Justin Bour, on the disabled list since July 25 with a right oblique strain, could be activated as soon as Friday.

Marlins bank on Straily to continue success vs. Braves

Stats, LLC

(TSX / STATS) -- ATLANTA -- The Miami Marlins are hopeful that right-hander Dan Straily can continue his season-long streak of success against Atlanta and help the club keep its fleeting playoff hopes alive.

Miami will send Straily (9-8, 3.91 ERA) to the mound in the opener of a four-game series at SunTrust Park, where he'll be opposed by Atlanta rookie Sean Newcomb (2-8, 4.31) on Thursday.

The Marlins (67-72) are seven games out of the second wild card and have lost four straight games. The Braves (61-77) are long gone from the playoff picture and are a league-worst 16-32 since July 17.

But the Braves have won seven of the 11 meetings with the Marlins.

The Braves have won four of six meetings at SunTrust Park. This is Miami's final visit to Atlanta; the Braves will close the season with a four-game set at Marlins Park, Sept. 28-Oct. 1.

Straily is the right guy for the Marlins to have on the mound against the Braves. He has been outstanding in three starts against Atlanta this season, going 2-1 with a 2.12 ERA. Straily has struck out 20 batters in 17 innings, has walked only three and has allowed just one home run.

In his last start against Atlanta on Aug. 5 at SunTrust Park, Straily allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings and took the loss. He struck out seven and allowed one walk.

Straily has made four career starts against Atlanta, going 2-2 with a 4.12 ERA.

The only Atlanta player with a homer against Straily this season is Nick Markakis, who is 2-for-8 with three strikeouts. Freddie Freeman is 1-for-5 with two strikeouts.

In Straily's last start on Sept. 2, he was touched for four runs in five innings by the Philadelphia Phillies but still came away with the win. He was helped by the Miami bats, which came up big in a 10-9 win.

"Thank God the bats showed up," Straily said afterward. "This game is all about picking each other up, and those guys really did a great job with the bats."

Newcomb is trying to finish his rookie season on a strong note. He was 1-3 with a 4.02 ERA in six starts in August but allowed three or fewer runs in five of those starts. He lost to Chicago on Aug. 31 despite allowing only two earned runs in five innings with seven strikeouts.

Newcomb's only appearance against Miami came in his second career start on June 16. He gave up three runs in six innings that night and took the loss.

Control has been the issue with Newcomb. He walked three batters in his last start and has 47 walks in 79 1/3 innings. He walked a season-high seven against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 8 and has yet to have a start without yielding a walk.

Newcomb will need to pitch carefully to Miami's Giancarlo Stanton, who has a league-leading 53 homers and has connected five times this season against the Braves. Stanton was 1-for-3 with a strikeout against Newcomb in their only previous encounter this season. Justin Bour had a homer against Newcome in that game.

Big inning helps Braves salvage DH split with Rangers

(TSX / STATS) -- ATLANTA -- No one was happier to see that five-run second inning go up on the Atlanta scoreboard than Braves' ace Julio Teheran.

The right-hander, who was only 2-9 at home, was staked to the early lead and made it stand up. Teheran, along with four Atlanta relievers, combined for a 5-4 win over the Texas Rangers in the nightcap of a doubleheader at SunTrust Park.

"We had the offense early in the game," Teheran said. "Always it's good to have that offense."

Texas won the first game Wednesday 12-8.

Freddie Freeman's two-run double highlighted the five-run second inning in the second game. Freeman was 1-for-4 in that game and finished 3-for-7 for the doubleheader as the Braves salvaged one game of the three-game interleague series.

Teheran (10-11) pitched five innings and allowed three runs on five hits and a season-high five walks. He struck out three.

"He was working really hard to get through that inning," Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. "It's good to see him never give in."

Teheran said, "I know I was facing a really good team. Obviously, I don't want to give in or make a mistake. I think overall I was good. I had to battle. That's part of the game."

The Rangers closed the gap to 5-4 in the sixth when Will Middlebrooks led off with a pinch-hit triple off reliever A.J. Minter and scored on Cole Hamels' grounder to second base. Middlebrooks became the first player in major league history to record a pinch-hit triple in both games of a doubleheader.

"Our guys continued to stay engaged, continued to battle," Texas manager Jeff Banister said. "We just came up short. It's a challenge to sweep a doubleheader."

Texas was trying to sweep a day-night doubleheader for the first time in nine tries.

Atlanta's Sam Freeman pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief and Jose Ramirez got two outs in the eighth for his 25th hold. Arodys Vizcaino allowed two hits in the ninth but retired Joey Gallo on a flyout to end the game and pick up his 10th save.

Hamels (9-3) pitched six innings and allowed five runs, four earned, on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts. After allowing all five runs in the second inning, Hamels retired nine consecutive batters and gave up just one hit and one walk in his final four innings.

The Braves sent 10 batters to the plate and scored five times in the second inning. Dansby Swanson and Ender Inciarte both drove in a run with singles, Kurt Suzuki scored on a throwing error by Hamels, and Freeman launched a two-run double that almost left the park.

"It was a situation in the second inning where he kind of lost a little bit of command with the secondary stuff," Banister said. "He just couldn't find the range with the soft stuff."

Hamels said, "When I get two strikes for some reason I can't locate a pitch in a better area where I can at least get a punchout or a weak groundball or weak flyball. Get behind a guy and come all the way back and know what pitch will get the job done and I can't execute the pitch. That's the very frustrating part."

The Rangers cut the deficit to 5-2 in the third on Nomar Mazara's two-run homer, his 18th.

Texas added a run in the fifth when Carlos Gomez doubled to dead center field over the head of Inciarte, allowing Mazara to beat the relay to the plate.

In the first game of the twinbill, Elvis Andrus went 4-for-5 and hit his 20th home run to spark a team-best nine extra-base hits. Mike Napoli clubbed his 29th homer. Austin Bibens-Dirxx (5-2) earned the win with three scoreless innings of relief.

Atlanta rookie Luiz Gohara (0-1) lasted four innings and allowed six runs in his major league debut. Inciarte went 4-for-5 and hit his 11th homer, and Matt Kemp hit his 17th home run.

Both teams have completed interleague play. The Rangers finished 15-5 against the National League. The Braves finished 9-11 against the American League.

NOTES: Texas C Robinson Chirinos doubled in his first at-bat of the second game and extended his on-base streak to 22 games. ... Atlanta C Kurt Suzuki was hit by a pitch for the 11th time, second on the club behind fellow C Tyler Flowers with 18. Texas CF Carlos Gomez was hit by a pitch for the 19th time, matching his career high. ... Texas RF Nomar Mazara left the second game in the sixth inning with tightness in his left quad. Mazara seemed to struggle while scoring on a double in the fifth inning. ... Texas LF Delino DeShields was hitless in the nightcap and saw his streak of reaching base in consecutive games end at 19. ... Atlanta begins a four-game series with Miami on Thursday. ... Texas returns home to start a three-game series with the New York Yankees on Friday.

Andrus, Rangers power past Braves

(TSX / STATS) -- ATLANTA -- Shortstop Elvis Andrus was 4-for-5 with a home run and the Texas Rangers produced a season-high nine extra-base hits in a 12-8 win over the Atlanta Braves in the first game of a day-night doubleheader at SunTrust Park.

Andrus hit his 20th homer, added a double and drove in three runs. First baseman Mike Napoli hit his 29th homer and the Rangers won their third straight game.

Texas took the lead with a four-run rally in the fourth. An opposite-field RBI double by Brett Nicholas and a two-run triple by pinch hitter Will Middlebrooks, who then scored on a wild pitch, gave the Rangers a 6-4 lead.

The Rangers added three runs in the fifth to go ahead 9-4 on a two-run homer from Napoli and an RBI single from Nicholas.

Texas put it away with two more runs in the sixth. Shin-Soo Choo doubled home Delino DeShields and scored on a sacrifice fly by Carlos Gomez.

Texas starter Miguel Gonzalez lasted only three innings in his debut with the team. He allowed four runs on four hits, two of them home runs, and left the game trailing 4-2.

Reliever Austin Bibens-Dirkx (5-2) picked up the slack by throwing three scoreless innings of relief while the Rangers tallied nine runs over three innings to put the game away. Bibens-Dirkx gave up five hits, all singles, and struck out two.

Atlanta's Luiz Gohara (0-1) gave up six runs in four innings in his major league debut. The left-hander allowed four hits and walked four, with six strikeouts.

Atlanta's 15-hit attack was led by center fielder Ender Inciarte, who went 3-for-5 with a homer, his 11th, and two RBIs. Matt Kemp added a two-run homer, his 17th.

NOTES: Atlanta activated LHP Luiz Gohara on Tuesday and he became the fourth rookie pitcher used by the club this season. He is the 11th starting pitcher used by the Braves. Gohara is the fifth Brazilian to play in the major leagues. ... The doubleheader marked the first time Texas has played two games on the same day since May 27, 2013 at Arizona. That was the longest existing span without a doubleheader among major league teams. ... Texas RHP Miguel Gonzalez walked in his first plate appearance. It was his first career base on balls. He came around to score his first career run. ... Texas LF Delino DeShields doubled in the sixth to extend his streak of reaching base in consecutive games to 19. ... Texas C A.J. Jimenez made his major league debut as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning and hit into a double play.

Seager caps 8th-inning rally as M's topple Braves

(TSX / STATS) -- ATLANTA -- At first Kyle Seager anticipated the worst possible outcome. He thought his long fly ball in the eighth inning was going to be caught.

He was wrong.

The third baseman had three hits, but it was his three-run homer that highlighted a five-run, eighth-inning rally to propel the Seattle Mariners to a 9-6 win over the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday at SunTrust Park.

"To be honest, I thought he caught it," Seager said. "I didn't see it until it bounced."

Seattle entered the inning trailing 6-5 and rallied against former Atlanta closer Jim Johnson, who allowed each of the four batters he faced to reach base.

Seager then greeted rookie reliever Dan Winkler with an opposite-field homer that bounced off the top of the wall, just out of the grasp of center fielder Ender Inciarte.

"In that situation with a guy on third, it's a really big run there, so you try to stay in the middle of the field and get a ball out there and get it in the air," Seager said.

Seattle won two of the three games against the Braves and finished the season with a 12-8 interleague record.

The winning pitcher was David Phelps, who was reinstated from the disabled list before the game. Phelps (2-1 with Seattle, 4-5 overall) worked two-thirds of an inning and did not allow a run for the seventh time in eight appearances since being acquired by the Mariners.

Edwin Diaz pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief to earn his 29th save. He struck out the side in the ninth

Johnson (6-3) took the loss. He was charged with four runs on three hits and a walk. Johnson has allowed four runs in each of his past two appearances and 11 runs in his past four games. It was the ninth time he has blown a lead and left the game to a chorus of boos.

"Location, sink, ball not sinking," Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said, reciting Johnson's problems. "They've been working hard in the bullpen, hoping some of that might pay off today and it didn't."

Snitker opted to stay away from Jose Ramirez and Arodys Vizcaino, who have been Atlanta's most reliable relievers of late.

"Felt like they had had a lot," Snitker said. "Trying to get around those guys."

The Braves had taken the lead with two runs in the seventh against reliever Marc Rzepczynski. One run scored on a double by Matt Kemp, the other on an infield out by Brandon Phillips.

Atlanta scored once in the eighth on Freddie Freeman's RBI single and had two runners on base, but Diaz struck out pinch hitter Matt Adams to end the threat.

Seattle starter Erasmo Ramirez allowed three runs in the first two innings before righting himself. From the third through fifth innings, he allowed just two hits and at one point retired nine consecutive batters.

Ramirez gave up three runs and six hits and struck out six, matching his season high, in six innings. It marked his third straight quality start.

He was just as impressive at the plate. He went 2-for-3 and became only the fourth pitcher in franchise history to get two hits in a game.

Atlanta starter R.A. Dickey gave up four runs in six innings, allowing 11 hits and two intentional walks. Dickey struck out six but managed to retire the side in order just once.

"It was a funny outing," Dickey said. "You have to accept it with that pitch. When a knuckleball goes up, the thing that it does off the bat, sometimes is bewildering. I felt like I should have given up a couple of runs at the most. I was happy that I bent but didn't break and gave us a chance."

Atlanta scored twice in the first inning on Freeman's double and a sacrifice fly from Nick Markakis.

Seattle answered with two runs in the second. Guillermo Heredia drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, and Ramirez singled and drove in a run, each the first of his career, to tie the game.

Atlanta made it 3-2 in the second inning when Dansby Swanson scored from third when Phillips hit a hard grounder to second base.

Seattle regained the lead with two runs in the third, as Seager and Mitch Haniger each had an RBI single.

NOTES: The Mariners designated OF Leonys Martin for assignment and activated RHP David Phelps from the 10-day disabled list. Phelps missed 14 games with right elbow impingement. ... Atlanta optioned LHP Max Fried to Triple-A Gwinnett and recalled LHP A.J. Minter. Minter pitched a scoreless inning and struck out two in his debut. ... Mariners 2B Robinson Cano doubled twice on Wednesday, giving him 507 for his career, which allowed him to pass Babe Ruth and move into 56th place on the all-time list. However, Cano was injured while running the bases and left the game with right hamstring tightness. He is day-to-day. ... Seattle LF Guillermo Heredia had to leave the game after being hit near the right elbow on a pitch from Jason Motte. ... Both teams are off on Thursday. Atlanta continues its homestand on Friday with the start of a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies. Seattle continues its 12-game road trip against the New York Yankees.

Markakis, Sims lead Braves past Mariners

(TSX / STATS) -- ATLANTA -- Nick Markakis feasted on Seattle Mariners pitching while in the American League with the Baltimore Orioles, and he is doing the same in interleague play for the Atlanta Braves.

Markakis hit a home run and had an RBI single as the Braves defeated the Mariners 4-0 behind rookie Lucas Sims' six spotless innings Tuesday night.

Markakis, who had three hits in the series opener Monday, has a career .326 average with six homers and 30 RBIs in 69 games against Seattle.

"We haven't made good pitches to him and he's taken advantage of them," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "He's a good player obviously and he had big hits again."

Sims (2-3) followed up his first victory Thursday at Colorado by giving up three hits and two walks Tuesday. The former first-round draft choice struck out four.

"They didn't swing at him real good," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "He never stops pitching. He pulls that cap down and competes. He's come a long way. He's worked his tail off."

Markakis' homer came in the fourth inning, and his run-scoring single in the fifth staked Sims to a lead in the right-hander's fourth major league start.

"He always moves on the next pitch. That's hard to do," Braves catcher Tyler Flowers said of Sims. "I know some vets who don't do that. That's going to help him throughout his career."

The Mariners, who won 6-5 on Monday despite four errors, handed the Braves unearned runs in the sixth and seventh innings with two more miscues.

Ozzie Albies was trapped rounding third on a single by Ender Inciarte in the sixth, but he scored when Seattle third baseman Kyle Seager couldn't handle a throw from catcher Mike Zunino.

Freddie Freeman had a RBI single in the seventh after center fielder Mitch Haniger dropped Brandon Phillips' fly ball. Freeman was 2-for-3 with a walk, extending his hitting streak to 11 games.

"We just haven't played clean baseball," Servais said. "We've got to tighten that up. We got away with it the first game. Tonight it got us."

Left-hander Marco Gonzales, making his fourth start for the Mariners after a trade from St. Louis, needed 99 pitches in make it through 4 2/3 innings.

Gonzales (0-1) was charged with two runs on six hits. He walked three and struck out five.

Markakis delivered a two-out RBI single in the fifth to make it 2-0. The hit came off the first pitch lefty reliever James Pazos after Gonzales gave up a walk to Freeman and Matt Kemp's second single of the game.

Markakis picked on a 3-2 changeup Gonzales left in the middle of the plate and pulled his eighth homer of the season over the 16-foot wall in right field to put the Braves ahead in the fourth.

Markakis has hit in 10 of his last 11 games, batting .375.

Robinson Cano led off the top of the inning for the Mariners with a double, but was stranded there when left fielder Kemp made a diving catch to rob Nelson Cruz and Sims retired the next two batters.

"Their guy threw a good ball game," Servais said. "He kept us off balance and threw a good sinker. Our guys had a tough time squaring him up."

It was the first home win for Sims, an Atlanta native.

"It seems like with each start there's so much to learn," Sims said. "You take a little bit from each one and try to better yourself."

NOTES: DH/OF Nelson Cruz, who was 0-for-4 to snap a 12-game hitting streak, started in right field for the fifth time in eight interleague road games for the Mariners. He previously played the field for two games each at Washington and Colorado. ... Seattle placed RHP Tony Zych (right flexor strain) on the 10-day disabled list. ... RHP Dan Altavilia, recalled from Triple-A Tacoma by the Mariners, pitched two innings, allowing two hits and an unearned run. ... RHP R.A. Dickey (8-8, 3.98 ERA) will start Wednesday's series finale for the Braves against RHP Erasmo Ramirez (5-4, 4.52). Ramirez has made four starts for the Mariners since being reacquired from Tampa Bay.

Sixth-inning homer binge propels Reds past Braves

(TSX / STATS) -- ATLANTA -- The Cincinnati Reds, flashing their power, backed rookie Sal Romano's longest major league start with a three-homer inning off the Atlanta Braves' R.A. Dickey on the way to a 5-3 victory Friday night.

Adam Duvall, Eugenio Suarez and Jesse Winker hit homers off the 42-year-old Dickey in the sixth and the Reds held off the Braves in Romano's ninth career outing.

The only run off Romano (3-5) came on a second-inning homer by Matt Adams. The 23-year-old right-hander went seven innings after not going past the sixth previously, allowing five hits and two walks while striking out three.

Joey Votto led off the sixth inning with a single and then three of the next four hitters played long ball against Dickey's knuckleball in the Reds' four-run sixth.

Duvall smashed 1-0 a pitch into the left-center-field seats to make it 2-1 with his 29th homer. Then Suarez and rookie Winker went back-to-back one out later.

Suarez, connecting on a 2-0 pitch, hit his 21st home run into the left-field seats and Winker pulled a 2-0 offering just inside the right-field foul pole and just over the wall for his third homer.

Dickey (8-8) struck out a season-high nine while walking one, but allowed eight hits and four runs in six innings.

Of the 22 homers that Dickey has allowed this season, 16 have come at SunTrust Park.

The Braves, down 5-1, scored twice in the eighth inning off reliever Kevin Shackelford, the big blow an RBI double by Tyler Flowers.

Blake Wood got the Reds out of the eighth on one pitch and Rafael Iglesias pitched around a one-out walk in the ninth for his 23rd save.

Adams, who had been homerless since July 23, put the Braves ahead in the second inning with his 17th blast of the season.

NOTES: RHP Scott Feldman, placed on the disabled list by the Reds with right knee inflammation a day after giving up five homers to the Cubs, could be headed to knee surgery. "I think one of the options will be season-ending," Reds manager Bryan Price said. ... Reds SS Zack Cosart left the game in the seventh inning after being hit on the lower left leg by LHP Rex Brothers. ... The Reds activated OF Scott Schebler, out since July 30 with a left shoulder strain. ... The Braves placed OF/INF Danny Santana (left quad strain) on the disabled list and recalled OF/INF Micah Johnson from Triple-A Gwinnett. ... As part of Hank Aaron Heritage Weekend, the Braves wore throwback uniforms from 1974, the year Aaron passed Babe Ruth's home run mark. ... RHP Julio Teheran (7-10, 4.98 ERA) will start for the Braves on Saturday, with rookie RHP Robert Stephenson (0-4, 6.64 ERA) pitching for the Reds.

Gonzalez seeks strong finish as Rockies host Braves

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(TSX / STATS) -- DENVER -- Carlos Gonzalez is hitting better lately.

The Colorado Rockies right fielder was mired in a deep slump for so long, though, his chances of ending the season with a robust bottom line resembling those of past seasons are slim.

Instead, Gonzalez is aiming "to just finish strong" and help the Rockies reach the postseason for the first time since 2009, not concerning himself where his own stats end up.

Heading into the series finale with the Atlanta Braves on Thursday, Gonzalez is hitting .236 with seven home runs and 37 RBIs in 100 games. He has a .191 average with runners in scoring position.

Gonzalez, however, has hit safely in nine of his past 11 games, going 13-for-42 (.310) with four doubles and eight RBIs. He feels he is dictating his at-bats.

"It's different when you don't go to the plate trying to see what happens," Gonzalez said. "Right now, I feel in control. Everyone is going to have bad at-bats and bad games. I think what's important is just to stay positive and feel good about yourself that you're going to get the job done.

"Most of the time when I get out it's because I got myself out. I chased bad pitches. But I feel like I can control my at-bats, and whenever they give me a good pitch, I'm not missing those as much."

The Braves need a win Thursday to split the four-game series.

Jeff Hoffman (6-4, 5.15 ERA) will start for the Rockies, while Lucas Sims (0-3, 5.71) gets the ball for the Braves. Both were first-round picks: Hoffman taken ninth overall by Toronto in 2014 and Sims 21st overall by Atlanta in 2012. Neither has faced his Thursday opponent.

Sims, 23, made his major league debut Aug. 1 and will be making his fourth career start after losing his first three. His latest outing was Saturday at St. Louis, where Sims, in his first road start, gave up 10 hits and five runs (four earned) in 5 1/3 innings during a 6-5 defeat.

Hoffman lost his last start 4-3 at Miami on Saturday when he allowed seven hits and four runs in five innings. Since he last won July 16, Hoffman is 0-3 with a 7.20 ERA in five starts.

Hoffman will hope to slow Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson, who has hit safely five consecutive games, going 6-for-18. Swanson went 1-for-3 with a double in Atlanta's 17-2 loss Wednesday and was robbed of a hit when Rockies shortstop Trevor Story made a diving catch of a liner in the fifth.

Swanson began the season with the Braves but was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on July 26 when he was hitting .213. That move came after a game at Arizona. The Diamondbacks took Swanson, 23, first overall in the 2015 draft but traded him to the Braves in December of that year in an ill-fated deal for Arizona that sent pitcher Shelby Miller to the desert.

The Braves recalled Swanson on Aug. 9, when Johan Camargo, who took over at shortstop, sustained a right knee bone bruise.

Recalling the day Swanson was demoted to the minors, Braves hitting coach Kevin Seitzer said, "This is what I told him, 'You need to go down and get confidence again. You need to be in a more relaxed setting to where you can just go play, get your swagger back.' Because this kid knows he can hit, knows he can play, but if you're not walking up there with a swagger to yourself, it's an uphill battle."

Seitzer said Swanson was missing fastballs, getting pitches to hit and fouling them off and having nothing to show for it when he did barrel a ball.

"There comes a point, you start trying harder," Seitzer said. "Then the pressing comes. He was battling. He's a very tough kid. He's very grounded mentally, emotionally. There weren't snaps or pouting. He came with a good attitude every day.

"Since he's been back, he's been barreling a lot of balls and not getting much to show for it. But he's having good at-bats. We just need to keep that rolling."

Rockies amass 9 extra-base hits, crush Braves 17-2

(TSX / STATS) -- DENVER -- The timing couldn't have been better for the Colorado Rockies as they emphatically halted their offensive woes Wednesday night by piling on the Atlanta Braves for their most lopsided victory of the season.

Colorado scored in each of the first five innings, packing 14 runs into that span en route to a 17-2 win. The 15-run margin was the Rockies' biggest since they walloped Houston 19-3 at Coors Field on Sept. 25, 2011.

Trevor Story hit two home runs, giving him 18 for the season, and had a career-high six RBIs while going 3-for-4. It was Story's first multi-homer game of the season after he savored four such performances last year as a rookie.

"It seemed like I hadn't done that in forever," Story said.

The Rockies pivoted sharply off their recent past. Colorado had gone 2-6 while scoring no more than three runs in eight consecutive games, the second-longest such streak in franchise history and one shy of the record. In those eight games, the Rockies went 9-for-62 (.145) with runners in scoring position.

They matched that eight-game total Wednesday, going 9-for-19 with runners in scoring position while erupting for 18 hits, including nine for extra bases. The nine hits with runners in scoring position were a season high.

"We know what kind of offense we have," said Mark Reynolds, who belted his 25th homer and had three hits and four RBIs. "Every team in baseball goes through a little lull where they can't seem to get the big hit or string hits together, and we kind of had that (last week) in Cleveland and Miami and the first two games here (against Atlanta). Today was huge, I think, for everyone on the team, confidence-wise."

DJ LeMahieu had his fifth four-hit game of the season and the ninth of his career while scoring four runs. Nolan Arenado drove in a pair, giving him a major-league-most 103 RBIs.

Gerardo Parra had three hits and four RBIs. With four or more RBIs apiece, Parra, Reynolds and Story combined to equal a franchise record. The only other time the Rockies had three players with at least four RBIs was Aug. 11, 1998, when Vinny Castilla, Mike Lansing and Todd Helton did it at Montreal.

The Rockies pounded the San Diego Padres 18-4 on July 19, which had been their biggest margin of victory this season before the Wednesday onslaught that included three three-run innings and a five-run outburst.

The beneficiary of the offensive surge was Colorado starter Jon Gray (5-2). The right-hander allowed five hits and two runs in six innings with two walks and six strikeouts. He retired the first nine batters and held the Braves scoreless for the first five innings as he improved to 4-0 with a 3.00 ERA in five starts at Coors Field this season.

"I'm comfortable here," Gray said. "It's more of a pride thing. I take a lot of pride in pitching here and being better than the other guy."

The 17 runs allowed were a season high for the Braves, who twice surrendered 16 this year. It was the most runs they have yielded since they allowed 20 against the New York Yankees on Aug. 30, 2015.

Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz (10-8) took the brunt of the Rockies' punishment, giving up a career-high-tying eight runs and nine hits in 3 1/3 innings. Foltynewicz, who lasted 2 2/3 innings in his previous start, needed 97 pitches to get the 10 outs Wednesday.

"It was just one of those times where I got ahead of guys and I just couldn't finish," Foltynewicz said. "I don't know what it was. Really things just weren't working out for me, and I was just leaving balls over the middle of the plate with two strikes, and then bloop hits and gappers and walking people doesn't help either."

Before the game, Rockies manager Bud Black lamented: "We're seeing good at-bats inning to inning, but we're not stringing the good at-bats in one inning."

Following the rout, Black referenced that critique after the offense zoomed into high gear.

"We talked about not bunching hits together in an inning," he said. "We've hit some homers, but they've been solos. Today we saw the opposite of what we've seen the last eight or nine days. Really bunched hits together, lot of traffic, lot of big hits."

NOTES: The start of the game was delayed 16 minutes by rain. ... LF Matt Kemp (right hamstring strain) ran rigorously for the second time this week, but the Braves' training staff wants him to do it again Friday before he might be activated Saturday. ... Colorado's streak of 11 wins over the Braves at Coors Field that ended Tuesday was its longest home winning streak against any opponent. ... Rockies LHP Tyler Anderson, who underwent left knee surgery July 3, will throw about 35 pitches in his second bullpen session Thursday. ... The Rockies traded LHP Sam Moll to Oakland for a player to be named or cash considerations. Moll had spent the season at Triple-A Albuquerque.

Rockies' Gray feels right at home versus Braves

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(TSX / STATS) -- DENVER -- Convinced that his slider finally is the vaunted weapon it was last season, the Colorado Rockies' Jon Gray will start Wednesday against the Atlanta Braves, seeking to remain unbeaten at Coors Field this year.

Gray (4-2, 4.92 ERA) will be opposed by Mike Foltynewicz (10-7, 4.29).

Gray is 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA in four home starts this season. He is 10-3 with a 4.70 ERA in 23 career starts at Coors Field, where he was initially uncomfortable in the final two months of 2015 when he came to the majors but is now very much at ease.

"It's something I take pride in now," the right-hander said of succeeding at Coors Field. "I know that I can do it. I know I can outpitch the other guy, no matter who it is, here."

Gray is 1-0 with an 0.64 ERA against the Braves in two career starts, both last year.

In his past four starts, Gray is 1-1 with a 3.28 ERA with four walks and 22 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings. He was not involved in the decision Friday at Miami, where he gave up three runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings with two walks and four strikeouts in Colorado's 6-3 loss.

In his side session after that outing, Gray worked on his slider, which he said hasn't broken well all year, though he anticipates it will Wednesday.

"I think sometimes I try to throw it like a curveball, and I shouldn't throw a slider like a curveball, because it's a power pitch," Gray said. "You got to make it look like a fastball, and it's something I really wanted it to do last year.

"I would think about that. 'All right, I'm going to try to make this guy think it's a fastball, no matter what. And I'm going to get the swing.' That's something I got back to after my last side session."

Gray, 25, missed 2 1/2 months with a stress fracture in his left foot. He said the sharpness of his slider was affected by some bad habits he developed when he landed on that foot while throwing his slider in a walking boot. Gray said he has had more of a finesse mentality throwing his slider this year, something he is ready to ditch.

"I got away from what the slider's all about," he said. "I was so excited the last couple days because of it. It's changed my attitude a little bit, so I'm feeling really good going into this game."

Foltynewicz, 25, is 0-2 with a 3.20 ERA in five games (three starts) against the Rockies and 0-1 with a 3.70 ERA in three games (one start) at Coors Field.

In his latest start, Friday at St. Louis, Foltynewicz gave up six runs and seven hits in 2 2/3 innings, his second-shortest outing of the season. He threw 48 of 83 pitches for strikes while walking four and striking out one in an 8-5 defeat.

However, while winning his Aug. 5 start against Miami, Foltynewicz gave up four hits and one run in 6 1/3 innings with no walks and 11 strikeouts. The Braves posted a 7-2 victory.

"He's come a long ways from a year ago," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "Stuff is really good. As much as commanding his stuff, he's commanding himself a lot better now and how he competes and not letting little things (affect him) and not making such a big deal of it.

"He's come a long way. He's not there yet. It is a process. But he's made a lot of strides in maturing, and the ceiling that we all thought about him and the stuff, you're seeing that now. It's just a matter of him staying healthy and going out there every fifth day, and then all that'll take care of itself, I think."

Rare Arenado error helps Braves beat Rockies

(TSX / STATS) -- DENVER -- The play seemed almost automatic, a one-hopper in the eighth inning Tuesday night to Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado, known for making jaw-dropping plays almost nightly.

However, the Atlanta Braves scored an unearned run on Arenado's low throw with two outs and beat the Rockies 4-3 to end an 11-game losing streak at Coors Field.

The Rockies' continued offensive malaise put Colorado in a position where Arenado's stunning error was costly.

"He never makes errors at third base," said Atlanta's Brandon Phillips, who scored the winning run. "To make an error like that shows you that he's human. And one thing it just shows is that you can win a game any kind of way."

Phillips doubled with one out in the eighth against Pat Neshek (3-3). Freddie Freeman followed with an opposite-field drive that Gerardo Parra hauled down in the left field corner for the second out.

Tyler Flowers then hit a routine grounder to third, but Arenado, winner of four consecutive Gold Gloves, made a low throw for his fifth error of the season. First baseman Mark Reynolds tried to make a backhanded pickup but was unable to hold the ball, and Phillips scampered home ahead of Reynolds' throw.

"It's unacceptable," Arenado said. "I've got to make that play, at the end of the day. I feel like I do for the most part. I didn't this time, and we lost. I short-armed it, I didn't get enough on the throw. Just a bad throw."

Phillips said he rounded third right when Arenado threw the ball, watched third base coach Ron Washington and was "just trying to keep my feet moving just in case anything happened. You knew it was a routine play for him, but once I saw the ball in the dirt, I just kept running."

Sam Freeman (2-0) worked the seventh, benefiting greatly when Freeman started a nifty 3-6-3 double play on Charlie Blackmon's grounder after pinch hitter Pat Valaika began the inning with a single.

Aroldys Vizcaino hit 100 mph with his fastball as he worked the ninth to earn his seventh save in nine opportunities.

Nick Markakis tied the game at 3 for the Braves when he hit his seventh home run, a shot to right-center with two outs in the sixth. That was the final inning for Rockies starter Kyle Freeland, who allowed four hits and three runs with two fateful walks and five strikeouts.

Both walks came in the second before No. 8 hitter Dansby Swanson, who was batting .210, turned on a 93.6 mph fastball and lined a two-run double into the left field corner, putting the Braves ahead 2-1.

Asked if he was looking for a fastball, Swanson smiled and said: "I can't give you all my secrets. See it and hit it, baby. Sometimes it works out for you, and sometimes it doesn't. The simplistic way of looking at things is sometimes the best way to go."

Atlanta starter Sean Newcomb also worked six innings, giving up three runs on five hits and four walks with eight strikeouts. Solo homers by Arenado in the first, Reynolds in the fourth and Trevor Story in the fifth accounted for Colorado's runs against Newcomb, a 23-year-old rookie making his 12th major league start and his Coors Field debut.

"You sort of expect it coming here," Newcomb said of the home runs. "You know deep fly balls kind of turn into home runs. But I just put those behind me and kept attacking."

Story put the Rockies ahead 3-2 when he led off the fifth with his 16th homer. It was the slumping Story's first extra-base hit since hitting his 15th homer July 29. Entering Tuesday, Story had gone 5-for-40 (.125) with 19 strikeouts since.

With one out in the inning, Blackmon walked and dashed to third on DJ LeMahieu's single. Newcomb retired Arenado on a pop up but walked Reynolds on four pitches to load the bases before getting Gerardo Parra to fly to left.

The Rockies have scored three runs in six straight games and have lost six of their past eight contests. They are 9-for-62 (.145) with runners in scoring position in that span, including 0-for-3 in such situations Tuesday.

"Man on first and second, we're not getting guys over. Man on third, we're not getting them in," Arenado said. "Today I had a man on third, and I popped up. It's unacceptable. You can't have that in games that you need runs."

The Rockies remained tied with Arizona for the two National League wild-card spots, five games ahead of St. Louis and Milwaukee, after a loss that was memorable because it resulted from Arenado's error.

"It's rare," Rockies manager Bud Black said. "You don't see it. You are not going to see it for a long time. It is part of this game."

NOTES: Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (left groin strain) was reinstated from the disabled list, and LHP Zac Rosscup was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque. ... Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado was back in the lineup. He sustained a left wrist contusion when hit with a pitch Sunday, and he pinch-hit Monday. ... Rockies LHP Tyler Anderson threw his first bullpen session from 60 feet, 6 inches since he underwent left knee surgery July 3. ... Braves CF Lane Adams made his first start in his 45th game this season. He went 1-for-3. ... Braves CF Ender Inciarte, who fouled a ball off his right foot Monday, was given a rest day. He had started all but two of Atlanta's previous 115 games. ... Braves 2B Ozzie Albies led off for the first time after batting seventh or eighth in his first 12 major league games. He went 0-for-4

Bettis returns from cancer battle, helps Rockies blank Braves

(TSX / STATS) -- DENVER -- Chad Bettis made a dazzling return Monday night, pitching seven scoreless innings for the Colorado Rockies in his 2017 debut and his comeback from cancer.

Bettis was not involved in the decision, but his storybook start paved the way to Colorado's 3-0 win over the Atlanta Braves.

The Rockies scored their runs in the eighth, the first on Gerardo Parra's RBI single and the final two on Carlos Gonzalez's single.

Bettis, 28, was diagnosed with testicular cancer and underwent surgery in late November. In March, Bettis learned the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes, forcing him to undergo nine weeks of chemotherapy. On Monday, he pitched in the big leagues for the first time since Sept. 30.

"There wasn't a doubt it would happen for me," Bettis said of his return to the Rockies. "The question was when it was going to be and what was it going to look like. Would I be in the bullpen or would I be able to start?"

Bettis allowed six hits with no walks and two strikeouts and got 13 outs on ground balls. He threw 89 pitches, including 62 strikes, and held the Braves hitless in seven at-bats with runners in scoring position.

The final two such at-bats wrapped up Bettis' outing. After Kurt Suzuki led off the seventh with a double and was sacrificed to third, Bettis got Ozzie Albies and Dansby Swanson to fly out. He then received a standing ovation as he walked to the Rockies' dugout.

"I don't know how to explain it," Bettis said. "You try to get your mind clear because of the task at hand, and then to be hit with that emotion, it was unbelievable. Walking in it was deep breaths."

The Rockies' game-winning rally began when Charlie Blackmon led off the eighth against former Rockies reliever Rex Brothers (2-3) with his major-league-leading 14th triple. The hit came with the count 1-2 and on Brothers' fifth pitch of the at-bat.

"I had a count in my favor and didn't execute, simple as that," Brothers said. "At this level, you see what happened. It's a matter of execution. I threw a slider belt-high, about as middle-middle as you can get."

After DJ LeMahieu was intentionally walked, Parra grounded a ball that drawn-in shortstop Swanson was unable to backhand on a short hop, and Blackmon scored.

Jason Motte relieved Brothers and walked Mark Reynolds to load the bases for Gonzalez. He singled home two runs on Motte's 0-2 pitch.

Mike Dunn (5-1) worked the eighth, and Greg Holland earned his 35th save in 38 chances. With runners on first and second, Holland got Albies to hit a soft liner to end the game.

Braves starter Julio Teheran, who took the mound with an 0-4 record and a 7.00 ERA in his past five games, gave up four singles in seven innings with three walks and eight strikeouts. He threw a season-high-tying 110 pitches, including 74 strikes, and extended his scoreless streak against the Rockies to 18 innings. In four starts at Coors Field, Teheran has not allowed a home run in 24 1/3 innings.

With runners on first and second and no outs in the seventh, Teheran struck out Pat Valaika, retired pinch hitter Nolan Arenado, who didn't start because of a left wrist contusion, on a foul pop out and struck out pinch hitter Alexi Amarista.

"I've been working to try and get back on track," Teheran said, "and today I feel like I had my best, like the old Julio Teheran that we're used to seeing."

In addition to the dicey seventh, Bettis gave up a one-out double to Nick Markakis in the fourth but stranded him at third when second baseman LeMahieu made a sliding stop on Danny Santana's grounder and threw him out. With one out in the fifth, Swanson doubled, but Bettis retired the next two batters.

"He was rough," Braves manager Brian Snitker said of Bettis. "There's a reason he won 14 games last year. His stuff was cutting and had good movement. I'm glad he's back healthy and pitching, wish we could've beat him."

Brothers played collegiate summer baseball with Bettis before both pitchers began their professional careers in the Rockies' organization -- Bettis in 2010 and Brothers the following year. His misfire to Blackmon notwithstanding, Brothers was happy to witness Bettis' return.

"He's been a great friend, a true friend, and he's first class," Brothers said. "It really did me a lot to see him and see what he's overcome. He's really an inspiration to a lot of people."

NOTES: Before the game and in the middle of the seventh inning, the Rockies paid tribute on their video board to Don Baylor, who managed the team in its first six seasons and died Aug. 8 at the age of 68. ... Rockies RHP Chad Bettis was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque to start against the Braves, and RHP Carlos Estevez was optioned to Albuquerque. ... Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado (bruised left wrist) pinch hit in the seventh and fouled out. He was hit in the wrist with a pitch Sunday but hit off a tee and took dry swings before Monday's game to test his wrist. ... Braves OF Matt Kemp (right hamstring) did sprints and running exercises before the game and is scheduled to do so again Wednesday and play Friday, if all goes well. ... Because of the spacious left field at Coors Field, Danny Santana and Lane Adams will man the position for San Diego in this series, rather than Matt Adams, a first baseman by trade, who has been playing left field in Kemp's absence.

Braves snap Cardinals' streak at 8

(TSX / STATS) -- ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Cardinals finally ran into a pitch that could shut down their scorching offense.

Knuckleballing R.A. Dickey scattered seven hits over seven solid innings Sunday as the Atlanta Braves snapped St. Louis' eight-game winning streak with a 6-3 decision at Busch Stadium.

Dickey (8-7) didn't give up a run until Carson Kelly singled home Kolten Wong, who tripled, with one out in the bottom of the seventh. Dickey walked two and fanned three.

Brandon Phillips provided the big hit for Atlanta (52-63) as it snapped a five-game losing streak. Phillips slugged a two-run homer in the fifth, his 10th of the year and second in as many games, to give the Braves a 4-0 lead.

Atlanta broke the scoring seal with two runs in the fourth off Michael Wacha (9-5). Danny Santana's one-out single with the bases loaded plated Freddie Freeman. Ozzie Albies followed with a sacrifice fly to center that scored Nick Markakis on a close play at the plate.

Wacha lost for just the second time in eight decisions. He allowed eight hits and four runs over five innings, walking one and whiffing one.

Nick Markakis gave the Braves a 5-0 lead in the seventh with a fielder's choice grounder that scored Ender Inciarte.

The Cardinals (61-57) put a scare into Atlanta in the eighth. Paul DeJong blasted a solo homer to left-center, followed by three straight singles. The last of those, Wong's grounder into right, scored Jose Martinez to make it 5-3.

St. Louis loaded the bases with one out, but reliever Jose Ramirez slipped a called third strike by Greg Garcia and induced an inning-ending bouncer to third from pinch hitter Yadier Molina.

Jace Peterson pinch-hit a triple to start the ninth and scored on a wild pitch for the Braves' final run.

Arodys Vizcaino worked a 1-2-3 ninth to garner his sixth save in eight tries.

The Cardinals dropped a half-game behind the Chicago Cubs for first place in the National League

NOTES: St. Louis 3B Jedd Gyorko (right knee irritation) missed his second straight game and was replaced again by Greg Garcia. Gyorko could return to the lineup Tuesday night at Boston, even if it's just in the DH role. ... Atlanta OF Matt Kemp (right hamstring) said he will be able to return from the 10-day DL Friday night when the Braves return home to play. Kemp, batting .290 with 14 homers and 48 RBI, said he won't require a rehab stint. ... Cardinals LHP Kevin Siegrist (left forearm) has started throwing off flat ground but isn't yet ready to throw off a mound. There's no timetable for his return.

Surging Cardinals beat Braves behind DeJong, Grichuk

(TSX / STATS) -- ST. LOUIS -- According to the St. Louis Cardinals, it's all coming together just as they thought it would all along.

"I think the change everyone has seen is that the team is more unified," pitcher Carlos Martinez said through an interpreter. "Everyone's healthy, and everyone's supporting each other. I think that's how we're going to keep it going through the end of the season, and hopefully into the postseason."

Martinez did his part to keep St. Louis' longest winning streak in two years going, working six effective innings as the Cardinals won their eighth in a row by holding off the Atlanta Braves 6-5 on Saturday night at sold-out Busch Stadium.

Randal Grichuk and Paul DeJong walloped solo homers for the Cardinals (61-56), who moved into a virtual first-place tie in the National League Central with the Chicago Cubs. Chicago lost 6-2 at Arizona, but maintains a winning-percentage edge of .001 in the standings because it has played two fewer games.

Still, this has been an impressive stretch for St. Louis, fueled mostly by offense. Consider that its output Saturday night was its lowest in a game since starting this winning streak with a 4-1 decision on Aug. 5 in Cincinnati.

But Martinez, who squared his record at 9-9, and two relievers pitched well enough to extend two streaks -- the Cardinals' winning streak and Atlanta's five-game skid. Martinez permitted seven hits and three runs, walking one and fanning seven.

Kurt Suzuki touched Martinez for a two-run single in the first, but the only hit of consequence he allowed after that was Brandon Phillips' two-out solo homer in the fifth. Working efficiently after the first, Martinez retired nine of 10 batters in one stretch.

"I think all the hard work is paying off," he said. "I have all the confidence in the world in our team."

A two-run deficit was nothing for an offense that has rolled up a whopping 68 runs during their winning streak. By the second inning, the Cardinals had already equalized. Dexter Fowler's single to right scored Matt Carpenter in the first, and Grichuk ripped his 15th homer to right-center with one out in the second.

Rookie right-hander Lucas Sims (0-3) skated out of two-out trouble in the second, but couldn't escape the next jam in the fourth. St. Louis did a lot of little things correctly in a three-run inning that shaped the game's remainder.

After Kolten Wong was plunked to start the inning, Grichuk doubled off the glove of Phillips at third. Greg Garcia grounded to second with the infield conceding a run, scoring Wong to make it 3-2.

Martinez grounded a single through a drawn-in infield, plating Grichuk for a 4-2 advantage. After Carpenter was hit by a pitch, Tommy Pham laced a single up the middle and Martinez sprinted home to cap the outburst.

"Seeing what guys expect from themselves, watching them take those grinding at-bats ... that excites me as much as anything," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said.

DeJong finished St. Louis' scoring in the seventh with his 17th homer, a 405-foot shot to left-center. Counting his 13 homers at Triple-A Memphis before he was recalled on June 15, DeJong now has 30 for the season.

"I was looking for that number and now I got it," he said. "It's on to the next number. I really don't have a particular one in mind. Last year it was 20, this year it was 30."

The Braves (51-63) nearly ruined things in the ninth. Deriving a fourth out because of Carpenter's error that enabled Danny Santana to reach base, they pulled within a run on Freddie Freeman's two-out, two-run single.

But on his 32nd pitch of the ninth, Trevor Rosenthal fanned Nick Markakis with a high changeup to secure his seventh straight save and 11th overall.

"These guys give you a hard 27 outs. They're never out of a game," Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said.

Sims was charged with 10 hits and five runs, four earned, over 5 1/3 innings. He walked one and whiffed three.

NOTES: St. Louis 3B Jedd Gyorko (right knee irritation) was scratched from the lineup less than two hours before the game and replaced by Greg Garcia. Kolten Wong, who was scheduled to get the night off while Garcia played second, was inserted into the lineup so that Garcia could move to third. ... Atlanta RHP Luke Jackson Friday night became the first pitcher since New York Yankees RHP Dellin Betances to throw 2 1/3 perfect innings out of the bullpen and fan six hitters. Betances did it on May 15, 2014. ... The Cardinals Friday night became the first team since the 2006 Braves to win six straight games and score at least eight runs in each victory.

Phillies continue mastery of Braves on Eickhoff effort

(TSX / STATS) -- ATLANTA -- Neither the Philadelphia players nor the coaches have an explanation of how the Phillies have managed to dominate the Atlanta Braves this season.

"No idea. I'm just happy it's happened," Philadelphia manager Pete Mackanin said after the Phillies beat the Braves 3-2 on Wednesday to improve their record against Atlanta to 11-2.

Jerad Eickhoff pitched 6 2/3 strong innings and Odubel Herrera provided the offense with a pair of triples to help the Philadelphia Phillies sweep a two-game series at SunTrust Park.

"It just comes down to not being able to put a finger on it," Eickhoff said. "I don't know if our pitching is matching up well with their hitters or our hitters are matching up well with their pitchers. It's just one of those weird things."

Eickhoff (3-7) allowed two runs on nine hits and struck out six without issuing a walk. The right-hander is now 3-0 with 38 strikeouts in his past seven starts. He improved to 3-2 with a 2.06 ERA against the Braves in 13 career starts.

"The one thing he did extremely well, he threw a ton of curveballs, and they couldn't stop that," Mackanin said. "All in all, an outstanding performance against a pretty good lineup."

Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said of the Braves' struggles with the Phillies, "You can't explain it. We just can't do anything with them, not for lack of trying.

The Phillies used four relievers to close the game. Hector Neris pitched around a walk in the ninth inning to earn his 13th save.

Herrera was 2-for-4, scored one run and drove in a run. He is hitting .434 (23-for-53) in 13 games against the Braves this season and has a 16-game hitting streak against Atlanta.

Atlanta rookie Sean Newcomb (1-7) gave up three runs, two earned, in six innings. Newcomb allowed five hits, struck out six and walked one.

Snitker said of Newcomb's effort, "Real encouraging. I like the fact they went to work and made improvement over the last start. ... He probably could have gone back out for the seventh. His stuff was good. He was turning it loose real good. It was a very encouraging outing."

Down 3-0, the Braves rallied to score twice against Eikhoff in the seventh inning.

Nick Markakis singled and went to third when Ozzie Albies hit a line drive to right that handcuffed Nick Williams and turned into a double. Pinch hitter Danny Santana delivered a two-out single to drive in both runs and cut the lead to 3-2.

However, left-hander Adam Morgan came on in relief to strike out Ender Inciarte and end the threat.

"I thought (Eickhoff) got tired in that seventh inning, a couple line drives and one lost in the lights that hurt, and he hung a curveball with two strikes to Santana," Mackanin said. "But good effort from our bullpen."

The Phillies got on the board with two runs in the third inning. Freddy Galvis reached on a one-out single and scored on Herrera's triple. Herrera then scored when the relay throw from second baseman Albies bounced past third baseman Brandon Phillips and into the stands.

Philadelphia added a run in the fifth inning on back-to-back doubles by Cesar Hernandez and Galvis.

Atlanta had baserunners in each of the first four innings but failed to score. The best early opportunity for the Braves came in the second when Markakis led off the inning with a double, only to be stranded there.

The Braves had a two-out rally in the sixth but failed to score. Freddie Freeman singled and got caught in a rundown between third and home after a Markakis double.

Philadelphia (42-69) has the worst record in the National League, but the Phillies have won six straight against the Braves (51-61).

"It's just kind of the way we've been against these guys," Snitker said. "Everybody pitches like they're Bob Gibson against us, regardless of their history."

NOTES: Atlanta recalled SS Dansby Swanson from Triple-A Gwinnett to replace SS Johan Camargo, who was placed on the 10-day disabled list after sustaining a bone bruise on his right knee when falling prior to Tuesday's game. Swanson started and went 0-for-4.... Philadelphia CF Odubel Herrera extended his hitting streak to 12 games. He has hit in 16 consecutive games against the Braves. Herrera had two triples, one shy of the team record set by Harry Wolverton in 1900 against Pittsburgh. ... Phillies 2B Cesar Hernandez doubled in the fifth to extend his hitting streak to 13 games. He has reached base in 20 of his past 21 games. ... Atlanta LHP Sean Newcomb got his first major league hit in the third inning.

Marlins use homers, Urena's arm to slay Braves

(TSX / STATS) -- ATLANTA -- The Miami Marlins hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning and that was enough to get Jose Urena another road victory.

Marcell Ozuna hit a three-run homer and J.T. Realmuto followed by also going deep off Atlanta rookie starter Lucas Sims as the Marlins salvaged the finale of a three-game series with a 4-1 victory on Sunday.

Urena (10-5) allowed three hits and run over six innings to improve to 7-0 away from Miami this season. The right-hander, who started the season in the bullpen, struck out three and walked one, leaving after 73 pitches.

"As a starter, he's pretty good right now," Ozuna said. "He's been working on the off-speed (pitch) and he's got a good fastball. When the off-speed is working good, it's hard to hit it."

Sims (0-2) hit Giancarlo Stanton and walked Christian Yelich with one out in the first inning before giving up the back-to-back homers to Ozuna and Realmuto on hanging breaking balls.

Ozuna connected on a 1-2 curve for his 26th homer, driving the ball over the fence in left-center field. Realmuto pulled a 0-1 slider into the Marlins' bullpen in left field for his 13th homer.

"That is the best thing you can have as a starting pitcher, when your team takes care of you like that," Urena said. "You've just got to go out there and do your thing."

It was the fourth time this season that the Marlins hit homers in consecutive at-bats.

"I've got to do a better job executing pitches," said Sims, who was making his second start. "That put us behind the 8-ball and I can't be doing that. They were both bad pitches."

Ender Inciarte, on a 12-game hitting streak, had two of the three hits against Urena. The center fielder doubled leading off the fourth inning for the Braves' first baserunner, and singled in the sixth to drive in Jace Peterson, who opened the inning with a pinch double.

"He's got a live arm and he's a good pitcher," Braves manager Brian Snitker said of Urena. "We just couldn't get anything going against him."

The Braves (51-59) had won 18 of the previous 28 games against the Marlins (52-57), including seven of 10 this year.

Jarlin Garcia and Junichi Tazawa each pitched a perfect inning in relief for the Marlins, then Brad Ziegler struck out Nick Markakis after a two-out hit by Freddie Freeman in the ninth for his second save as Miami's new closer.

Sims steadied after the first, making it through six innings on 106 pitches. The right-hander allowed six hits, struck out three, walked two and hit a batter.

"He could have caved in after the first, but he didn't," Snitker said. "He regrouped and went six, which showed me a lot. Everything is going to help him for his next start and the one after that. Pitching here is nothing you can replicate in Triple-A. You learn from this."

"I had two options, either roll over and let it get ugly or go out there and try to keep us in it," Sims said. "I choose the latter. The first one really isn't an option."

The Marlins got only two runners past first base after the first against Sims and didn't get anyone on over the final three innings against a trio of Braves relievers.

"It was one of those games where you'd like to add a run here or there to keep the momentum going, but we couldn't," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said.

NOTES: Braves INF Brandon Phillips, playing his fifth game at third, made a diving stop to take away a potential double and threw out RF Giancarlo Stanton in the third inning. ... SS Miguel Rojas led off for the Marlins with 2B Dee Gordon out of the lineup and C J.T. Realmuto got a start at first with 1B Justin Bour (strained right oblique) on the DL. Realmuto added a single to his homer and made a nice catch on a popup in shallow right field. ... The Marlins had won four straight series before facing the Braves, going 9-4, while the Braves had taken a series in five tries, going 4-13. ... The Marlins play four games in Washington beginning Monday. They are 5-4 against the Nationals this year, winning two series in Miami. ... The Braves are idle Monday before playing Philadelphia twice to end an eight-game homestand. ... Atlanta is 2-9 against the Phillies, losing all seven games in Philadelphia.

Foltynewicz, Freeman lead Braves past Marlins

(TSX / STATS) -- ATLANTA -- Mike Foltynewicz is continuing to show why the Atlanta Braves traded for him and why they have been patient with his development.

The right-hander, obtained in a 2015 trade when the club began its rebuilding plan, struck out a career-high 11 batters and won for a career-best 10th time Saturday.

Foltynewicz, backed by the four-RBI performance of first baseman Freddie Freeman, helped the Braves defeat the Miami Marlins 7-2 at SunTrust Park.

"He's growing up," Freeman said. "Every start he's letting the attitude go a little bit more. That's what we need and that's what he needs. Every time he does that, he's pitching better and better."

Foltynewicz (10-6) pitched 6 1/3 innings and allowed one run on four hits. He has won eight of his last nine decisions and has not lost a start at home since May 5.

"Their guy was good early," Miami manager Don Mattingly said. "He was throwing 97-98 and the zone was pretty favorable for him tonight. When a guy's throwing 98, there's not a whole lot you're going to do with that."

Foltynewicz is 5-2 with a 3.46 ERA in nine starts at SunTrust Park. The Braves have won his last seven starts at home and he is 5-0 with a 2.43 ERA during that stretch. His 11 strikeouts were the most by an Atlanta pitcher since Julio Teheran fanned 12 in the 2016 season finale against Detroit.

"Everything felt good today," Foltynewicz said. "Even like the first three pitches in the bullpen. I knew I was going to be on my game. The slider was working, fastball command was really working, had good life on it. Just one bad pitch all night, really, and kept the team in it. I knew they'd break out, just like it seems they always do."

The Atlanta offense again showed some late-inning life. The Braves scored twice in the sixth inning and five times in the seventh. Atlanta has scored 192 runs in the seventh inning or later, the third-most in the major leagues.

The Braves' runs in the sixth came off Dan Straily (7-8). Ender Inciarte singled, stole second and scored when Freeman blooped a single to left. Freeman scored on a double by Nick Markakis.

In the seventh inning, after the Braves loaded the bases on walks, Brandon Phillips lashed a two-RBI single just inside the third-base bag. Freeman followed by blasting a three-run homer to left field, his 20th. Both extra-base hits were allowed by Dustin McGowan.

Freeman was 2-for-4 and now has 45 RBIs. He is hitting .395 in 43 at-bats with runners in scoring position.

"I'm trying to be more consistent," Freeman said. "Ever since the All-Star break it hasn't been what I wanted. I'm starting to feel a little bit better. Hopefully I can keep that train going."

Miami's Giancarlo Stanton clubbed his third homer of the series to produce the first run in the sixth inning. The solo shot, his 36th homer, went 446 feet into the left-field stands. It was his 18th career homer against the Braves and leaves him one shy of his personal best of 37 set in 2012.

"The only guy really driving any runs in is G," Mattingly said. "He's swinging the bat good. He's hitting about everything they're throwing up there."

Stanton, who was 2-for-4, doubled home a run in the eighth, easily scoring Dee Gordon from first base.

"Folty was on his game tonight," Stanton said. "And we let an inning get out of hand and we lost."

The Marlins tried to rally in the ninth. They loaded the bases with one out against reliever Luke Jackson, forcing Atlanta manager Brian Snitker to bring in closer Arodys Vizcaino. He retired the next two batters to end the game and earn his fifth save.

Straily lost for the fourth straight time. In 5 2/3 innings he allowed two runs, five hits and one walk while striking out seven.

NOTES: The Braves recalled INF/OF Jace Peterson from Triple-A Gwinnett and LHP Max Fried from Double-A Mississippi. They sent RHP Jason Hursh to Triple-A Gwinnett and traded INF/OF Sean Rodriguez to Pittsburgh for 1B/OF Connor Joe, the No. 39 pick in the 2014 draft. ... When Atlanta RHP Mike Foltynewicz struck out his eighth batter, he set a career high for strikeouts in a season at 112. ... Atlanta CF Ender Inciarte extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a single in the sixth inning. ... Atlanta drew 40,731 for its 10th sellout. ... Atlanta is 7-3 against the Marlins this season and has won 18 of its last 28 games against Miami.