Matt Olson smashed a grand slam and a two-run homer, driving in a career-high six runs, as the Atlanta Braves defeated the Colorado Rockies 11-8 in Denver on Saturday night.
Jorge Soler contributed with three hits, including a home run, while Marcell Ozuna also went deep for Atlanta. Pierce Johnson (5-4) secured the win in relief, and Raisel Iglesias earned his 24th save.
The Braves snapped their six-game losing streak and secured their 14th win in the last 16 matchups against Colorado.
Despite Sam Hilliard driving in a career-high five runs with a homer and two doubles, the Rockies’ batters struck out 14 times. Hunter Goodman, Brenton Doyle, and Brendan Rodgers each had two hits for Colorado.
Hilliard gave the Rockies an early lead with his fourth home run, a three-run shot in the second inning, but Atlanta responded by sending 10 men to the plate in the third against Dakota Hudson.
Ramon Laureano singled, and Hudson walked three consecutive batters to bring in a run, making it 3-1.
Hudson struck out Ozuna, but Olson then crushed a 3-2 fastball into the second deck in right field, giving the Braves a 5-3 lead.
Hudson’s night ended after surrendering five runs on three hits and four walks in just 2 2/3 innings.
Colorado tied the game 5-5 in the bottom of the third with Hilliard’s two-run double to center, but Ozuna reclaimed the lead for the Braves with a solo homer in the fifth, his 35th of the season.
Atlanta added two more runs in the sixth to go up 8-5, though the Rockies quickly responded in the bottom of the inning with Ezequiel Tovar’s two-run double and an RBI single by Doyle.
That cost Braves starter Max Fried a win, as he allowed five runs (four earned) and struck out nine over five innings.
Olson put the Braves back in the lead with his second home run, a two-run blast in the seventh inning off Angel Chivilli (0-1). It marked his 20th homer of the season.
Soler’s solo shot in the eighth, his 14th of the season, extended Atlanta’s lead to 11-8.