Franklin Morales Rocked In Colorado Rockies Loss To The Atlanta Braves

May 8, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Franklin Morales (56) reacts during the game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Texas won 5-0. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

It was a rocky start for Rockies southpaw Franklin Morales Sunday afternoon as he couldn’t help Colorado earn the series victory. The lefty would give up a a solo home run to Braves catcher Evan Gattis in the bottom half of the second inning to give Atlanta the 1-0 lead.

Colorado continues to give critics something to talk about regarding home/road splits. The team was held scoreless as they were 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position, leaving six on base against Braves starter Julio Teheran. Teheran would throw six scoreless innings, giving up four hits, one walk, while striking out seven.

Morales would give up yet another long ball to Evan Gattis, this time a two-run home run to left field to push the Braves lead to three. Moving to the bottom half of the fifth, Justin Upton would club a two-run shot of his own to left, scoring Freddie Freeman, signaling to the end of Morales’s day. He would exit the game after 4 2/3 innings, giving up five hits, five runs, three walks, while giving up three home runs.

No matter who the Braves threw out there, Colorado’s offense was non-existent. Braves reliever Anthony Varvaro came in and threw two scoreless innings, needing just 13 pitches while striking out one.

As if the game couldn’t have gone any worse for the Rockies, all-star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki left the game after the top half of the eighth inning as he pulled up limping down the first base line. Recently recalled infielder Josh Rutledge took his place from that point on.

Braves third baseman Chris Johnson would tack on some more runs in the bottom half of the eight inning as he would club a two-run shot to left off of Rockies reliever Nick Masset to extend the lead to 7-0, Atlanta.

Notable Rockies Hitters:

•  Justin Morneau: 1-for-4.

Rockies Pitching:

• Franklin Morales (L, 3-4): 4.2 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 1 SO. 87 pitches, 57 strikes.
• Tommy Kahnle: 1.1 IP, 1 SO.
• Rex Brothers: 1.0 IP, 2 SO.
• Nick Masset: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 SO.

The Colorado Rockies (27-23) fall to the Atlanta Braves, 7-0. Colorado will begin a three-game set the Philadelphia Phillies tomorrow as they send Jhoulys Chacin (0-3, 4.76 ERA) to the hill. Philadelphia will counter with a righty of their own in Kyle Kendrick (0-5, 4.53).