Heim drives in 5 runs to help Braves beat Rockies 11-6 in Strider's return

DENVER (AP) — Jonah Heim homered, doubled and drove in five runs, Jorge Mateo also hit a home run and the Atlanta Braves beat the Colorado Rockies 11-6 on Sunday.

Spencer Strider made his season debut for the Braves and allowed three runs and four hits in 3 1/3 innings in his return from an oblique injury suffered in spring training. He struck out six and walked five.

Aaron Bummer (1-1) came on in relief of Strider and gave up two runs in one inning while earning the win.

Atlanta placed star right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. on the 10-day injured list because of a strained left hamstring before the game.

But the Braves were able to get production throughout their lineup Sunday. Austin Riley hit a bases-loaded RBI single, Eli White walked to bring in a run and Matt Olson scored on a sacrifice fly by Heim to cap Atlanta’s three-run fifth that made it 6-4.

Kyle Freeland (1-3) gave up six runs and eight hits, walked three and had seven strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings for the Rockies.

Mickey Moniak homered twice for Colorado, a solo shot in the fourth and a two-run blast in the eighth. TJ Rumfield went 3 for 5 with a home run and two RBIs.

Edouard Julien walked to lead off the first, stole second and scored on Rumfield's two-out single that made it 1-0.

Olson doubled to lead off the second and after Riley and White struck out swinging, Heim hit a 425-foot shot to center off Freeland. Mateo hit the next pitch 405 feet down the line in left to give the Braves a 3-1 lead.

Rumfield's leadoff homer in the third made it a one-run game.

Jake McCarthy tripled to lead off the fourth, Julien struck out swinging and Bummer replaced Strider. Three pitches later, Moniak hit a two-run shot that gave the Rockies a 4-3 lead.

Rockies: RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (3-1, 2.84 ERA) will start Monday against the New York Mets, who hadn't announced a starter.

Braves: RHP JR Ritchie (1-0, 2.92) is scheduled to pitch Monday against Mariners RHP Logan Gilbert (1-3, 4.03) in Seattle.

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Colorado Rockies' Mickey Moniak tosses his bat as he heads up the first-base line after hitting a two-run home run off Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Aaron Bummer in the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 3, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer, left, takes the ball from starting pitcher Kyle Freeland as he is pulled from the mound after issuing a bases-loaded walk to Atlanta Braves' Eli White in the fifth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 3, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies' Mickey Moniak is congratulated as he returns to the dugout after hitting a two-run home run off Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Aaron Bummer in the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 3, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider works against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 3, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Atlanta Braves' Jonah Heim follows the flight of his sacrifice fly to drive in a run off Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Antonio Senzatela in the fifth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 3, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

DETROIT (AP) — Spencer Torkelson hit a two-run homer and the Detroit Tigers pulled away to a 7-1 victory over the Texas Rangers on Sunday night.

Torkelson had gone five games without a homer after tying a franchise record by homering in five consecutive games.

Kevin McGonigle had two RBI singles and Matt Vierling added a two-run double for Detroit, which has won all five of its home series. Hao-Yu Lee chipped in a run-scoring single.

Tyler Holton served as an opener and retired two of the three batters he faced. Brant Hunter (4-0) tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings for the win, allowing two hits and striking out two.

Rangers starter Jack Leiter tied his career high with 10 strikeouts. He lasted 6 2/3 innings and was charged with five runs.

Leiter struck out six of the first eight batters he faced. He didn't allow a baserunner until he issued a four-pitch walk to Riley Greene. Torkelson fell behind in the count 0-2, then clubbed a hanging slider over the left field wall to give Detroit a 2-0 lead.

McGonigle's line drive single in the sixth knocked in Jake Rogers, who led off the inning with a liner that bounced past center fielder Evan Carter for a triple.

Texas scored in the seventh on Kyle Higashioka's RBI groundout. The Tigers then scored four runs in the bottom of the inning, highlighted by Vierling's two-run bloop double.

The Rangers begin a three-game road series against the New York Yankees on Tuesday. RHP Jacob deGrom (2-1, 2.01) will start for Texas. Ace LHP Tarik Skubal (3-2, 2.70) will start the opener of a three-game home series against Boston on Monday.

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

Detroit Tigers' Spencer Torkelson, center celebrates his two-run home run with Riley Greene (31) as Texas Rangers catcher Kyle Higashioka, right, looks on during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 3, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Texas Rangers pitcher Jack Leiter throws against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 3, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Tigers pitcher Brant Hurter tosses the ball to first base for an out on a Texas Rangers' Brandon Nimmo ground ball during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 3, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Tigers' Spencer Torkelson pumps his fist after hitting a two-run home run against the Texas Rangers during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 3, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Tigers' Spencer Torkelson hits a two-run home run against the Texas Rangers during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 3, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)