Rockies edge Chris Sale, Braves to halt 8-game skid

Chase Dollander and three relievers combined to pitch a three-hitter, Brenton Doyle homered and the Colorado Rockies beat the Atlanta Braves 2-1 in Denver on Wednesday to snap an eight-game losing streak.

It was just the fifth win in 30 games for Colorado, which avoided being swept for the third straight series. Rookie Zach Agnos gave up a two-out single to Ozzie Albies in the ninth but retired Eli White on a flyout to right to earn his first major league save.

Dollander (2-3) battled through 5-2/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits and walking three, the last two in the sixth. After the second walk of the inning, manager Bud Black and a trainer came to the mound. Dollander tossed a couple of warmup pitches and promptly left the game with an apparent blister.

Jake Bird came on and fanned Albies to strand the two runners.

Atlanta starter Chris Sale struck out 10 and gave up two runs five hits over seven innings. Nick Allen and White had the only hits through the first eight innings for the Braves, who lost for just the third time in the last 12 games. Atlanta missed a chance to reach .500 and opens a seven-game homestand against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday.

Colorado went ahead in the second when Hunter Goodman led off with a single, went to third on a double to left by Michael Toglia and scored on Sean Bouchard’s groundout.

Sale (1-3) struck out Jacob Stallings and got Alan Trejo to ground out to end the inning.

The Braves tied it in the third. Drake Baldwin led off with a walk, Allen followed with a single and both runners moved up on Eddie Rosario’s groundout to first.

Baldwin scored on a Michael Harris II groundout to even it up but Dollander struck out Austin Riley swinging to limit the damage to one run.

Doyle’s fourth home run of the season in the bottom of the inning gave the Rockies a 2-1 lead. It was just the 26th home run in 30 games for Colorado.

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