Ozuna and Harris hit 3-run homers to power Braves to 12-4 comeback win over struggling Rockies

ATLANTA (AP) — Marcel Ozuna hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning to give Atlanta the lead and the Braves stormed back from a three-run deficit to beat the Colorado Rockies 12-4 on Friday night.

Ozuna's homer to left field off Victor Vodnik (1-2) drove in Alex Verdugo and Matt Olson.

Ryan McMahon had three hits for Colorado, including a two-run homer in the first. A three-run homer by Michael Harris II in the sixth off Jake Bird tied it at 4.

Ronald Acuña Jr. doubled on the first pitch from Germán Márquez and scored on Olson's sacrifice fly. Acuña added singles in the third and fifth innings and stole second base in the fifth on his first attempt since returning on May 23 after missing almost a full season following surgery on his left knee.

A leaping catch by left fielder Jordan Beck in the seventh robbed Acuña of another hit.

Olson drove in three runs on three hits.

McMahon's homer off Bryce Elder carried 441 feet, easily clearing the wall in center field.

Enyel De Los Santos (2-2) pitched a scoreless seventh.

Orlando Arcia, who signed with Colorado on May 28 after he was released by the Braves, was greeted with applause before his first at-bat in his return to Atlanta. He stepped away from the plate in the second inning, raised his helmet to the fans, and then singled past shortstop Nick Allen.

The Rockies (13-56) are 6-29 on the road after beginning the night tied for the second-worst start away from home in team history. The 2005 Rockies started 5-29 on the road and the 2001 team also was 6-28.

Atlanta right-hander Spencer Strider (0-5, 5.40 ERA) will look for his first win when the Braves continue the three-game series against Colorado right-hander Chase Dollander (2-6, 6.85) on Saturday.

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Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. (13) speaks to the Colorado Rockies bench in the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Atlanta Braves Ronald Acuña Jr. (13) slides to home plate against Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman (15) in the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Atlanta Braves shortstop Nick Allen (2) attempts a tag on Colorado Rockies' Ryan McMahon (24) third inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Colorado Rockies pitcher Germán Márquez (48) delivers against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Atlanta Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna (20) celebrates his three-run homer against the Colorado Rockies in the seventh inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Richard “Dick” Codey, a former acting governor of New Jersey and the longest serving legislator in the state's history, died Sunday. He was 79.

Codey’s wife, Mary Jo Codey, confirmed her husband’s death to The Associated Press.

“Gov. Richard J. Codey passed away peacefully this morning at home, surrounded by family, after a brief illness,” Codey's family wrote in a Facebook post on Codey's official page.

"Our family has lost a beloved husband, father and grandfather -- and New Jersey lost a remarkable public servant who touched the lives of all who knew him," the family said.

Known for his feisty, regular-guy persona, Codey was a staunch advocate of mental health awareness and care issues. The Democrat also championed legislation to ban smoking from indoor areas and sought more money for stem cell research.

Codey, the son of a northern New Jersey funeral home owner, entered the state Assembly in 1974 and served there until he was elected to the state Senate in 1982. He served as Senate president from 2002 to 2010.

Codey first served as acting governor for a brief time in 2002, after Christine Todd Whitman’s resignation to join President George W. Bush’s administration. He held the post again for 14 months after Gov. Jim McGreevey resigned in 2004.

At that time, New Jersey law mandated that the Senate president assume the governor’s role if a vacancy occurred, and that person would serve until the next election.

Codey routinely drew strong praise from residents in polls, and he gave serious consideration to seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2005. But he ultimately chose not to run when party leaders opted to back wealthy Wall Street executive Jon Corzine, who went on to win the office.

Codey would again become acting governor after Corzine was incapacitated in April 2007 due to serious injuries he suffered in a car accident. He held the post for nearly a month before Corzine resumed his duties.

After leaving the governor’s office, Codey returned to the Senate and also published a memoir that detailed his decades of public service, along with stories about his personal and family life.

“He lived his life with humility, compassion and a deep sense of responsibility to others,” his family wrote. “He made friends as easily with Presidents as he did with strangers in all-night diners.”

Codey and his wife often spoke candidly about her past struggles with postpartum depression, and that led to controversy in early 2005, when a talk radio host jokingly criticized Mary Jo and her mental health on the air.

Codey, who was at the radio station for something else, confronted the host and said he told him that he wished he could “take him outside.” But the host claimed Codey actually threatened to “take him out,” which Codey denied.

His wife told The Associated Press that Codey was willing to support her speaking out about postpartum depression, even if it cost him elected office.

“He was a really, really good guy,” Mary Jo Codey said. “He said, ‘If you want to do it, I don’t care if I get elected again.’”

Jack Brook contributed reporting from New Orleans.

FILE - New Jersey State Sen. and former Democratic Gov. Richard Codey is seen before New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy delivers his State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature at the statehouse, in Trenton, N.J., Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)