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 However, nothing went as planned.
Hale (3-4) was scheduled to start against the Braves on Friday. Even
so, he was on regular rest Thursday -- because the Rockies were off
Monday -- and he was told about one hour before the game began that
he would pitch if a rain delay ended the night for starter Kyle
Kendrick.
Sure enough, Hale was pressed into long-relief duty by a stoppage
that began in the bottom of the first, lasted 2 hours, 6 minutes and
cost both teams their starting pitcher.
Hale, whom the Rockies acquired from the Braves in an offseason
trade, only worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings before a mild left groin
strain forced him to leave. He was injured coming off third base and
scoring on a sacrifice fly after hitting a single in the second.
"We weren't planning for the pulled groin," Rockies manager Walt
Weiss said. "That really threw a wrench the plans. When David
(left), we were in a tough spot."
Hale's departure forced Weiss to scramble. Colorado ended up using
eight pitchers, none of whom worked more than 1 2/3 innings. The
last was closer John Axford, who earned his 15th save in 16
opportunities.
"We had to empty the tank pretty much," said Weiss, who used all of
his relievers except LaTroy Hawkins.
All the Rockies pitchers had scoreless outings except for Christian
Friedrich, who gave up three runs in the fifth, trimming Colorado's
lead to 4-3. The Rockies quickly tacked on a run in the bottom of
that inning on catcher Nick Hundley's double.
Rockies right fielder Carlos Gonzalez had three doubles in a game
for the first time in his career, and third baseman Nolan Arenado
had his second consecutive three-hit game.
The win was just the third in 12 games for the Rockies and their
first in three games on the current six-game homestand. The loss was
Atlanta's third in nine games this month.
The Rockies had to wait 2 hours, 7 minutes for the rain to end
before they could start their game at Coors Field on Wednesday night
against the Los Angeles Angels. Thursday's delay was a minute
shorter but more damaging because neither starter could return.
Alex Wood threw two pitches for the Braves before the game was
halted. He will start Sunday in the final game before the All-Star
break.
"I was pretty surprised that they wanted us to start that game, but
that's the way it goes," Wood said of the beginning of the action
Thursday. "You've just got to deal with it and move on. And I look
forward to taking the ball on Sunday."
Jake Brigham (0-1), making his fourth appearance in the majors, gave
up 10 hits and four runs in four innings in relief of Wood.
After Drew Stubbs homered to give the Rockies a 3-0 lead in the
second, Hale singled, his opposite-field grounder out of reach of
first baseman Chris Johnson, who had three hits. Hale moved up a
base on successive singles and scored on shortstop Troy Tulowitzki's
sacrifice fly.
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Hale took the mound in the second but wasn't able to finish the
inning due to the groin strain.
"It just feels like tight and bruised," Hale said, "so it's going to
take a couple days to get better."
Doubles by Arenado, first baseman Wilin Rosario and Gonzalez, the
latter two in succession with two outs, made it 2-0 in the first.
Gonzalez went 3-for-4 with his second straight three-hit game and
raised his average to .254, the highest it has been since April 17.
He underwent season-ending surgery last August on his left knee.
Gonzalez said the knee is getting stronger during the season, and
unlike last year, he can now utilize it during the leg kick in his
swing.
"I got to be able to sit back and just wait on breaking balls and
react with the fastball," Gonzalez said. "It's getting better.
Tonight and last night, I'm feeling a lot better at the plate."
The Braves cut the lead to 4-3 with a three-run fifth. Second
baseman Jace Peterson doubled home two runs, and center fielder
Cameron Maybin followed with a sacrifice fly.
NOTES: The total time of rain delays at Coors Field this season is
22 hours, 24 minutes. ... Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki extended his
hitting streak to 21 games with a single in the fourth. He also
reached base in a 36th consecutive game. Both streaks are career
highs and the longest active runs in the majors. ... Braves LF Kelly
Johnson and 1B Chris Johnson were in the lineup because of their
success against Rockies RHP Kyle Kendrick. Both players began the
day 8-for-26 (.308) with one homer against Kendrick, and they
finished the Thursday game with a combined five hits. ... Atlanta C
A.J. Pierzynski, who went 10-for-13 with three doubles and a triple
in his previous three games, went 0-for-4. He will be in the lineup
Friday and Sunday but not Saturday, manager Fredi Gonzalez said. ...
Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado batted second for the first time since the
opener of a May 23 doubleheader and for the fourth time this season.
Rockies 2B DJ LeMahieu hit sixth for the first time since May 3 and
for the fourth time this season.
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reserved.]
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