Rockies score 7 runs in the 8th in come-from-behind 9-8 win over the Braves

DENVER (AP) — Jake Cave had three RBIs, Charlie Blackmon and Sam Hilliard each had three hits, and the Colorado Rockies mounted a furious comeback to defeat the Atlanta Braves 9-8 on Sunday in the finale of a three-game series.

The Rockies earned the victory with a seven-run eighth inning, turning an 8-2 deficit into a 9-8 advantage. It was the largest deficit the Rockies have overcome this season, and the seven runs were tied for the most in an inning by Colorado in 2024.

The Rockies had been 3-59 this season when trailing after seven while the Braves had been 48-2 when leading after seven.

“These guys have no quit in them,” Hilliard said. “I truly believe that. We never feel like we’re out of a game. We got a couple of runs there and you could feel the momentum. It’s like, alright, let’s keep going. You can just feel it.”

Entering the day, the Rockies had been 2-14 against the Braves since the start of the 2022 season and had lost nine of their previous 10 games against Atlanta at Coors Field.

Blackmon and Brendan Rodgers each had two RBIs for Colorado, which had lost four of its previous six games. Cave’s two-run homer to start the rally in the eighth was his sixth of the season and third this month.

Josh Rogers (2-0) picked up the win after allowing one run in 1 2/3 relief innings while Victor Vodnik earned his eighth save of the season with a scoreless ninth.

Joe Jiménez (1-4) took the loss for the Braves, giving up four hits and three earned runs in just 1/3 of an inning. It was his second blown save of the season.

“When things start piling up, they start leaving pitches over the plate, they start getting rushed a little bit or whatever it is,” Cave said. “That momentum is a real thing.”

Rockies starter Kyle Freeland left the game in the top of the fourth inning after being looked at by a team trainer. He allowed three earned runs and four hits, two of which were homers, in 3 2/3 innings.

Freeland said he suffered a “pretty big gash” on his left pinky finger, with bleeding that made keeping him in the game a non-starter.

“I didn’t want to compromise his ability to get guys out,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “It was affecting his pitches. It was time to get him out.”

Jorge Soler had two home runs for the Braves, his 15th and 16th of the season, while Austin Riley and Travis d’Arnaud also went deep. Orlando Arcia had four hits for Atlanta, all of them singles.

Braves right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach gave up two earned runs and struck out seven across six innings in his 12th career start. With a walk to Michael Toglia in the fifth inning, the 24-year-old rookie’s run of 27 consecutive innings without a walk was snapped. It had been the longest such streak in the majors.

It was Atlanta’s seventh loss in its past eight games.

“It’s tough to swallow,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “It’s a tough one there. That’s even weird for here. It felt like we were an out away in the eighth and next thing you know, the roof caved in. It’s a hard one to explain.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rockies: Placed RHP Dakota Hudson (right elbow inflammation) on the 15-day injured list and selected the contract of LHP Josh Rogers from Triple-A Albuquerque.

Braves: OF Eddie Rosario elected for free agency, declining his assignment to Triple-A Gwinnett.

UP NEXT

Rockies: RHP Cal Quantrill (7-8, 4.56 ERA) will face off against RHP Brandon Pfaadt (6-6, 3.92) and the host Diamondbacks on Monday night.

Braves: LHP Chris Sale (13-3, 2.75 ERA) will take the mound against the host Giants and LHP Blake Snell (2-3, 4.31).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Josh Rogers, front, reacts after giving up a solo home run to Atlanta Braves' Jorge Soler, back, in the eighth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies' Jake Cave follows the flight of his two-run home run off Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Luke Jackson in the eighth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies' Jake Cave, center, is congratulated as he returns to the dugout after hitting a two-run home run off Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Luke Jackson in the eighth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Victor Vodnik works against the Atlanta Braves in the ninth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Atlanta Braves' Travis d'Arnaud stands at home plate after striking out against Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Victor Vodnik to end a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Atlanta Braves' Marcell Ozuna singles off Colorado Rockies pitcher Victor Vodnik in the ninth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies' Ryan McMahon scores on a double hit by Brendan Rodgers off Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Joe Jiménez in the eighth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies pitcher Victor Vodnik reacts after striking out Atlanta Braves' Travis d'Arnaud to end a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Kayla Thornton scored 18 points and the second-year Golden State Valkyries became the quickest expansion team to reach the WNBA Finals, sweeping the defending champion Las Vegas Aces 87-77 in overtime Friday night in Game 3.

The second-seeded Valkyries will have home-court advantage and will host No. 4 Atlanta beginning Oct. 17. The Dream swept New York earlier in the night, and now teams are 22-0 in playoff history when leading a series 2-0.

Las Vegas, which was seeded third, had won three of the past four championships.

Gabby Williams added 16 points for the Valkyries, including eight in overtime. Former Aces Kiah Stokes and Tiffany Hayes each had 11 points, and Stokes also grabbed 10 rebounds.

A’ja Wilson, honored before night’s game for winning an unprecedented fifth MVP, scored 21 points, but on 6-for-19 shooting for the Aces. She also had 10 rebounds, joining DeWanna Bonner as the only players with 1,300 points and 600 rebounds in the postseason.

Jackie Young added 18 points and Chelsea Gray 17.

A 17-point run bolted Golden State past the Aces for a 53-47. Las Vegas closed within a point by the end of the quarter, giving the Aces only seven points in the period.

The Aces led by six points late in the game before the Valkyries evened the score when Gabby Williams stole the ball from Wilson and Thornton finished with a transition layup to make it 69-69 with 1:50 left.

Golden State then took the lead Veronica Burton's 9-foot floater with 1:12 remaining. The Aces tied the score on Gray's inbound pass to Young with 27 seconds left and ultimately force overtime.

The extra period belonged completely to the Valkyries, who outscored the Aces 16-6

See AP’s full WNBA coverage here

Las Vegas Aces Kalani Brown (20) looks to shoot against Golden State Valkyries forward Gabby Williams (1) during the first half of Game 3 of the WNBA basketball semifinals Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ian Maule)

Golden State Valkyries' Gabby Williams (1) and Veronica Burton (22) defend against Las Vegas Aces’ A'ja Wilson (22) during the first half of Game 3 of the WNBA basketball semifinals Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, in Las Vegas.(Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Las Vegas Aces guard Dana Evans reacts after making basket while being fouled during the first half of Game 3 of the WNBA basketball semifinals against the Golden State Valkyries, Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ian Maule)

Golden State Valkyries forward Gabby Williams, left, and center Kiah Stokes (41) collide while going for the ball against the Las Vegas Aces during the first half of Game 3 of the WNBA basketball semifinals Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ian Maule)

Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) secures a rebound against Golden State Valkyries forward Kayla Thornton, right, during the first half of Game 3 of the WNBA basketball semifinals Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ian Maule)