DENVER (AP) - The Colorado Rockies can’t seem to avoid losing a home game on their own. The weather spared them from possibly dropping their sixth in a row at Coors Field.
The Rockies’ game against the Atlanta Braves that was scheduled for Wednesday was postponed because of a strong storm expected to hit Colorado and beyond. The game will be made up Aug. 26.
The storm was forecast to hit the Denver area around noon, approximately one hour before the scheduled first pitch. Rain, snow and strong winds were expected into Thursday.
The Rockies announced the postponement around 9 a.m., allowing both teams to leave town before the storm could delay air travel.
The Braves won the first two games of the series in what was scheduled to be their only visit to Coors Field this season. They open a four-game series at home against the New York Mets on Thursday night.
Colorado has lost its first five home games and heads to San Francisco with a 3-9 record. The Rockies have not lost six straight home games to open a season since 1998.
Injuries have played a part in Colorado’s slow start.
First baseman Daniel Murphy, the team’s offseason free-agent acquisition, will miss several weeks with a broken left index finger suffered in the first weekend of the season. His replacement at first, Ryan McMahon, strained his left elbow in the home opener, and outfielder David Dahl was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with left side core injury.
Starting pitcher Tyler Anderson also is on the injured list with left knee inflammation.
Colorado had three players in the lineup with less than a full year’s experience combined in Tuesday’s 7-1 loss to Atlanta.
“Obviously we’re banged up. We’re being tested right now,” shortstop Trevor Story said. “We’re veteran players, we’ve got to step up and bring those guys with us. These guys have a lot of talent, we just want them to play and do their thing out there and not worry about anything else.”
Colorado has hit just eight home runs in the first 12 games, none by Nolan Arenado, who has led the team in that category the past four seasons.
Atlanta has hit its stride after dropping its first three games of the season. The Braves have won seven of their last eight, including two at Coors Field. They have scored 48 runs in the past eight games and hit three home runs in the two games in Denver.
Ronald Acuna Jr. homered in both games and Dansby Swanson hit a three-run homer in Tuesday’s win. Swanson also hit a smash to right that Colorado rookie outfielder Yonathan Daza snared.
“He smoked the first ball,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. “He’s having really good at-bats and playing really, really well.”
UP NEXT
Braves: RHP Kevin Gausman (1-0, 0.00 ERA) pitches Thursday against the Mets. He allowed just two hits over seven shutout innings in his first start of the season against Miami.
Rockies: RHP Jon Gray (0-2, 5.68) will try to get his first win of the season on Thursday and end Colorado’s five-game losing streak in San Francisco.
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