Michael Harris II drives in 3 runs and the Braves defeat the Rockies for their 16th loss in 17 games

DENVER (AP) — Matt Olson had a season-high three hits, Michael Harris II drove in three runs and the Atlanta Braves defeated Colorado 8-2 on Tuesday night for the Rockies 16th loss in 17 games.

Austin Riley and Nick Allen had two RBIs apiece while Eli White had a pair of extra-base hits — a triple and a double — for the Braves, who have won nine of their past 11 games after a 5-13 start.

The loss was the Rockies’ eighth in a row. It’s the first time in franchise history that Colorado has gone 1-16 over a 17-game stretch.

At 4-25, the Rockies became just the third MLB team since 1901 to lose at least 25 of its first 29 games of the season, joining the 2003 Detroit Tigers and the 1988 Baltimore Orioles.

On the same day he was recalled to Atlanta, AJ Smith-Shawver (1-2) gave up two earned runs and struck out five across 5 1/3 innings to earn his second career win. After throwing 59 pitches, 46 for strikes, the 22-year-old right-hander was pulled from the game in the sixth inning after getting hit on his throwing elbow by a sharp line drive from Ryan McMahon.

Germán Márquez (0-5) took the loss for Colorado, giving up 11 hits and seven earned runs in 5 1/3 innings.

A two-out single from Allen drove in two runs, capping off a three-run fourth inning for Atlanta and extending its lead to 5-1.

Since throwing six shutout innings against the Philadelphia Phillies in his first start of the season, Márquez has allowed 25 earned runs in 15 2/3 innings, ballooning his season ERA to 9.82.

Rookie RHP Chase Dollander (1-3, 7.91 ERA) and Colorado will take on LHP Chris Sale (1-2, 5.40) and visiting Atlanta Wednesday afternoon in the teams’ series finale.

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Colorado Rockies' Mickey Moniak (22) and Michael Toglia (4) celebrate after a home run by Toglia in the second inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)

Colorado Rockies shortstop Alan Trejo (31) throws to first base for the first out of the third inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)

Colorado Rockies second baseman Kyle Farmer (6) falls to the ground in the second inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)

Atlanta Braves' Ozzie Albies (1) runs to second base after a fielding error by Colorado Rockies right fielder Mickey Moniak (22) in the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)

Atlanta Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna (20) breaks his bat on a pitch in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)

Colorado Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon (24) throws to first base for an out in the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)

Atlanta Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna (20) hits into a ground out in the first inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Germán Márquez (48) delivers a pitch in the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher AJ Smith-Shawver (32) delivers a pitch in the first inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)

Colorado Rockies shortstop Alan Trejo (31) smiles after fielding three outs in the third inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)

Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley (27) throws to first base for an out in the third inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran wants to negotiate with Washington after his threat to strike the Islamic Republic over its bloody crackdown on protesters, a move coming as activists said Monday the death toll in the nationwide demonstrations rose to at least 544.

Iran had no immediate reaction to the news, which came after the foreign minister of Oman — long an interlocutor between Washington and Tehran — traveled to Iran this weekend. It also remains unclear just what Iran could promise, particularly as Trump has set strict demands over its nuclear program and its ballistic missile arsenal, which Tehran insists is crucial for its national defense.

Meanwhile Monday, Iran called for pro-government demonstrators to head to the streets in support of the theocracy, a show of force after days of protests directly challenging the rule of 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian state television aired chants from the crowd, who shouted “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!”

Trump and his national security team have been weighing a range of potential responses against Iran including cyberattacks and direct strikes by the U.S. or Israel, according to two people familiar with internal White House discussions who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

“The military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Sunday night. Asked about Iran’s threats of retaliation, he said: “If they do that, we will hit them at levels that they’ve never been hit before.”

Trump said that his administration was in talks to set up a meeting with Tehran, but cautioned that he may have to act first as reports of the death toll in Iran mount and the government continues to arrest protesters.

“I think they’re tired of being beat up by the United States,” Trump said. “Iran wants to negotiate.”

He added: “The meeting is being set up, but we may have to act because of what’s happening before the meeting. But a meeting is being set up. Iran called, they want to negotiate.”

Iran through country's parliamentary speaker warned Sunday that the U.S. military and Israel would be “legitimate targets” if America uses force to protect demonstrators.

More than 10,600 people also have been detained over the two weeks of protests, said the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has been accurate in previous unrest in recent years and gave the death toll. It relies on supporters in Iran crosschecking information. It said 496 of the dead were protesters and 48 were with security forces.

With the internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, gauging the demonstrations from abroad has grown more difficult. The Associated Press has been unable to independently assess the toll. Iran’s government has not offered overall casualty figures.

Those abroad fear the information blackout is emboldening hard-liners within Iran’s security services to launch a bloody crackdown. Protesters flooded the streets in the country’s capital and its second-largest city on Saturday night into Sunday morning. Online videos purported to show more demonstrations Sunday night into Monday, with a Tehran official acknowledging them in state media.

In Tehran, a witness told the AP that the streets of the capital empty at the sunset call to prayers each night. By the Isha, or nighttime prayer, the streets are deserted.

Part of that stems from the fear of getting caught in the crackdown. Police sent the public a text message that warned: “Given the presence of terrorist groups and armed individuals in some gatherings last night and their plans to cause death, and the firm decision to not tolerate any appeasement and to deal decisively with the rioters, families are strongly advised to take care of their youth and teenagers.”

Another text, which claimed to come from the intelligence arm of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, also directly warned people not to take part in demonstrations.

“Dear parents, in view of the enemy’s plan to increase the level of naked violence and the decision to kill people, ... refrain from being on the streets and gathering in places involved in violence, and inform your children about the consequences of cooperating with terrorist mercenaries, which is an example of treason against the country,” the text warned.

The witness spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing crackdown.

The demonstrations began Dec. 28 over the collapse of the Iranian rial currency, which trades at over 1.4 million to $1, as the country’s economy is squeezed by international sanctions in part levied over its nuclear program. The protests intensified and grew into calls directly challenging Iran’s theocracy.

Nikhinson reported from aboard Air Force One.

In this frame grab from video obtained by the AP outside Iran, a masked demonstrator holds a picture of Iran's Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi during a protest in Tehran, Iran, Friday, January. 9, 2026. (UGC via AP)

In this frame grab from footage circulating on social media from Iran shows protesters taking to the streets despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026.(UGC via AP)

In this frame grab from footage circulating on social media from Iran showed protesters once again taking to the streets of Tehran despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world in Tehran, Iran, Saturday Jan. 10, 2026. (UGC via AP)