Ozzie Albies, AJ Smith-Shawver lead the Braves to an 8-3 win over the Rockies

By BILL TROCCHI Associated Press
ATLANTA (AP) — Ozzie Albies had three hits and three RBIs, and the Atlanta Braves beat the Colorado Rockies 8-3 on Thursday night to give 20-year-old rookie AJ Smith-Shawver his first major league win.
Smith-Shawver (1-0) gave up three runs and six hits over 5 2/3 innings in his second career start. He struck out six, walked one and allowed two solo homers.
“He was really good,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “A lot better than his last start. There were a lot of little things I really liked. He never got really excited.”
Smith-Shawver threw 99 pitches and has a 2.03 ERA in three big league appearances after making pit stops at three minor league levels this season.
“I settled down a little bit (from his previous start),” Smith-Shawver said. “I didn’t think I had my best stuff in my last start. The more starts you get, the more comfortable you get on the mound. One slider I left hanging, but I tried to minimize those pitches and give us a chance to win.”
Kevin Pillar went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and Sean Murphy added three hits and two runs for the first-place Braves, who have won nine of 11.
Michael Tonkin struck out six in 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief to earn his first career save. Atlanta’s bullpen soaked up nine innings Wednesday in a doubleheader sweep at Detroit.
“To contribute and save some of the guys down in the bullpen is awesome,” Tonkin said.
Kyle Freeland (4-8) gave up seven runs and nine hits in 4 1/3 innings.
“The second inning was tough for Kyle,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “They put some good at-bats on him and some walks came back to haunt him. Maybe his stuff wasn’t as crisp as we’ve seen it, but that happens, right? You’re going to make 33, 34 starts, you’re not going to have your best stuff every start.”
Albies batted second for the first time this season and responded with a three-run double in the second that gave the Braves a 5-1 lead. The switch-hitter had three hits off Freeland, raising his average against lefties this year to .418.
Rockies catcher Elias Díaz homered onto the Hank Aaron Terrace in left field in the second, and shortstop Ezequiel Tovar led off the fourth with a home run to left-center.
Atlanta took the lead for good with a five-run second inning. Pillar drove in Murphy and Matt Olson with a two-run double. After Orlando Arcia and Ronald Acuña Jr. walked, Albies cleared the bases with a double to left field.
A sacrifice fly by Acuña scored Arcia in the fourth, and a sacrifice fly by Marcell Ozuna knocked in Murphy in the fifth. Olson added his team-leading 19th home run in the seventh off Pierce Johnson.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rockies: OF Kris Bryant (left heel bruise) joined the team in Atlanta and took batting practice for the first time since getting injured on May 30. There is no timetable for his return.
Braves: Placed reliever Jesse Chavez on the 15-day injured list after he was hit in the left shin by a grounder Wednesday against Detroit. X-rays were negative. Atlanta called up RHP Ben Heller, who hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2020. He was acquired from Tampa Bay on June 6. … RHP Kyle Wright (shoulder inflammation) has been cleared to begin a throwing program. He is likely at least two months from returning. … LHP Max Fried (forearm strain) is three weeks into his throwing program and hasn’t thrown a true bullpen or faced hitters, but Snitker said Fried is feeling good. He could be back sometime after the All-Star break.
ROSTER MOVE
The Rockies promoted catcher Jorge Alfaro from Triple-A Albuquerque and optioned catcher Brian Serven to their top farm club. Colorado signed Alfaro to a minor league deal June 10 after he was released by Boston. He hit .357 with a home run in three games before being called up. Alfaro started at DH and went 0 for 4.
TID-BITS
Acuña was called for a pitch-clock violation prior to Freeland’s first pitch of the night. … The Rockies didn’t arrive at their hotel in Atlanta until 5 a.m. on Thursday after playing a rain-delayed game in Boston on Wednesday night. … Colorado starting pitchers have one win in the past 30 games. … The Braves are just 5-11 against the Rockies at Truist Park.
UP NEXT
Rockies RHP Dinelson Lamet (1-3, 10.38 ERA) faces Braves LHP Jared Shuster (3-2, 5.05) on Friday night.