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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
ATLANTA (AP) -- Andy Ashby had one bad inning and it cost the
Atlanta Braves.
|  | | Rockies manager Buddy Bell, left, congratulates first baseman Todd Helton, who hit his 41st homer in a 4-2 victory over the Braves. |
Todd Hollandsworth and Terry Shumpert hit consecutive home runs
off Ashby in the fifth inning and the Colorado Rockies beat Atlanta
4-2 Friday night as the Braves blew a chance to move up in the race
for home-field advantage in the postseason.
"I made a couple of mistakes. A changeup that I slowed down on
to Hollandsworth and a sinker that I tried to throw down and away
and got it up in the zone to Shumbert," Ashby said.
"I kept us close and felt good about giving us a chance to
win," he said. "We're playing good, but some days you just don't
catch the breaks."
Todd Helton added his 41st home run for the Rockies in the
ninth. The Braves, losing their third in a row, haven't won since
clinching the NL East title Tuesday night with a 7-1 victory in New
York.
The Braves are tied with St. Louis for the second-best record in
the NL. San Francisco is two games ahead of both teams in the race
for home-field advantage in the league playoffs.
"It's important (home field), but I don't think it's something
everybody is down about if we don't get it," said Ashby. "The
main thing is we're in."
Manager Bobby Cox echoed Ashby.
"We'd like to open at home if we can, but it's not the biggest
thing in the world. We'll open Tuesday, that's for sure," he said.
Helton said he doesn't get any pleasure in playing the spoiler
role.
"No satisfaction whatever. We would like to be in their
shoes," he said.
What Colorado did get with the win is their 81st victory,
ensuring a .500 season.
"It's better than a losing season. It says to me that we're
going in the right direction. It's a huge positive," said Helton,
who went 1-for-4 and continues to lead the league in hitting (.373)
and RBI (143).
Brian Bohanon (12-10) gave up five hits and two runs in 6 2/3
innings, leaving after consecutive two-out doubles in the seventh
by pinch-hitter Bobby Bonilla and Rafael Furcal got the Braves
within 3-2.
Bohanon is 5-1 in his last seven starts and has won five in a
row on the road. He matched his career high for wins, set last
season.
Jose Jimenez pitched the ninth for his 24th save.
Ashby, (12-13) who had won his last four starts, had only one
bad inning -- the fifth.
The right-hander gave up a leadoff single to Todd Walker and
Hollandsworth hit his 19th homer, a two-run shot into the
right-field stands. Shumpert followed with his ninth homer, a drive
over the left field wall.
Ashby gave up five hits and three runs in seven innings.
The Braves scored their first run in the opening inning when
Furcal led off with a single, took second when Chipper Jones was
hit by a pitch and scored on a single by Andres Galarraga, giving
him 100 RBI.
Game notes
Galarraga became the third Atlanta player to reach 100
RBI. Chipper Jones has knocked in 109 runs and Andruw Jones 101.
... In the second, Rockies catcher Brent Mayne's throw attempting
to get Reggie Sanders at third on an attempted double steal hit the
bat of Andruw Jones. Both runners were safe. Jones walked, loading
the bases, but Chipper Jones flied to center to end the two-out
threat. ... If the Giants and Braves finish with the same record,
Atlanta would have the home-field advantage based on its 6-3 season
edge on San Francisco. If Atlanta and St. Louis are tied, the Cards
get home field because of their 4-3 season series lead. If all
three teams are tied, the Braves and Cardinals would gain home
field in the first round. The Braves would play the Giants and St.
Louis would meet the New York Mets.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Colorado Clubhouse
Atlanta Clubhouse
RECAPS
Baltimore 13
NY Yankees 2
Cleveland 8
Toronto 4
Detroit 1
Minnesota 0
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NY Mets 11
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Atlanta 2
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