With help from robot umpire, Rockies beat Mets 3-1 for third series win, NY's 14th loss in 16 games

NEW YORK (AP) — Colorado avoided falling behind when the robot umpire changed Brett Baty's bases-loaded walk to an inning-ending called third strike in the first, and Jose Quintana got his first win of the season as the Rockies sent the New York Mets to their 14th loss in 16 games, 3-1 in a doubleheader opener Sunday.

Troy Johnston hit an RBI single in the fourth and broke a 1-1 tie with a run-scoring, double-play grounder in the sixth. Jake McCarthy added an RBI single in the seventh for Colorado (12-16), which clinched its third series win this year. Last season, the Rockies (43-119) didn't win their third series until July 18-20.

Players won four of seven challenges to the robot umpire on ball-strike calls by plate umpire Ryan Blakney.

Blakney was challenged four times in the first inning, with three called overturned — including a called strike to Bo Bichette that became a ball on Quintana’s first pitch. The inning ended when Baty started heading to first when Blakney called ball four on a bases-loaded, full-count sinker on the outside corner only to have the ABS system change it to a called third strike — the first of three against Baty.

Quintana (1-2) allowed two hits in a season-high 5 1/3 innings. Jaden Hill escaped a bases-loaded jam in the eighth by retiring Luis Robert Jr. on a foul pop and striking out Mark Vientos, and Victor Vodnik got three straight outs for his fourth save, finishing a four-hitter.

Nolan McLean (1-2) gave up two runs — one earned — and five hits in five innings for the Mets (9-18).

With Francisco Lindor on the injured list, Bichette made his first start at shortstop this year.

Tyrone Taylor tied the score in the fifth with his second homer of the season, matching his 2025 total, a drive to left into a 15 mph wind.

Francisco Alvarez had been 0 for 28 in his big league career as a pinch hitter before his eighth-inning single.

Mets RHP Kodai Senga (0-3, 8.83) was to start the second game on eight days’ rest. Colorado started Chase Dollander.

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New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza returns to the dugout after a pitching change during the sixth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, April 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Mets Francisco Lindor walks in the dugout wearing a protective boot during the sixth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, April 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Colorado Rockies' Brett Sullivan (26), right, slides safely home while New York Mets catcher Luis Torrens waits for the ball during the seventh inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader, Sunday, April 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Mets' Mark Vientos reacts after striking out to end the sixth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, April 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Colorado Rockies' Jake McCarthy looks after an RBI single during the seventh inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the New York Mets, Sunday, April 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

ATLANTA (AP) — Chris Sale shut down the Phillies for the second time in nine days and won his 150th career game as the Atlanta Braves built an early lead and beat Philadelphia 6-2 on Sunday.

Sale (5-1) threw six shutout innings, allowing just one hit and striking out a season-high nine. In his previous start on against the slumping Phillies on April 18, Sale gave up one run in seven innings.

The Phillies, who snapped a 10-game losing streak Saturday, dropped to 0-10 against left-handed non-opener starters and fell to 9-19 overall.

Matt Olson hit a three-run home run in the first inning and Eli White added a two-run homer in the second for the Braves, who won for the 10th time in 12 games. Olson's homer was his eighth of the season and fourth in his career off Phillies starer Aaron Nola (1-3).

Ronald Acuña Jr. was 2 for 3 with two runs scored and a steal. Drake Baldwin was 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored, and Ozzie Albies extended his hitting streak to nine games with a single in the seventh inning.

Nola gave up a season-high six runs on seven hits and has now allowed 11 earned runs in his last two starts. Kyle Schwarber hit a two-run homer run in the eighth inning as the Phillies avoided the shutout.

Sale's only difficulty came in the third inning, when a hit by pitch, a single and a walk loaded the bases for Phillies slugger Bryce Harper. After falling behind 3--0, Sale struck out Harper to end the threat.

The Braves are 8-0-1 in nine series this season and are the only team not to lose a series.

Phillies: LHP Jesus Lozardo (1-3, 6.91) will face Giants RHP Tyler Mahle (1-3, 5.26) in the opener of a three-game series Tuesday in Philadelphia.

Braves: LHP Martín Pérez (1-1, 2.70) will start against Tigers RHP Casey Mize (2-1, 2.51) for Tuesday's first game of a three-game series in Atlanta.

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

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola (27) reacts after giving up a three-run home run to Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 26, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr., left, runs out an infield single ahead of the throw to Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper, right, during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 26, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

Atlanta Braves' Matt Olson hits a three-run home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 26, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale (51) delivers to a Philadelphia Phillies batter during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 26, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)