1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 0  
0 2 0 0 1 5 0 0 x  
4 11 2
8 9 0
J. Jurrjens Jurrjens
#49 RHP
13-9, 3.62 ERA
6.0 Innings
4 ER
Rusch G. Rusch
#32 LHP
5-5, 5.38 ERA
0.2 Innings
4 ER

ATLANTA (AP) -The Colorado Rockies are streaking again in September. This time it's in the wrong direction.

Colorado's dismal playoff hopes took another blow Thursday night when Yunel Escobar 's three-run homer capped a five-run sixth inning and the Atlanta Braves beat the Rockies 8-4 to complete a three-game sweep.


This year, the Rockies (67-80) have lost five straight, their longest skid since eight in a row from June 22-30. A 3-6 record in September has left the Rockies 8 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.

''We come in here having some hope of catching those two teams out in front of us,'' said Glendon Rusch , who gave up four runs in the sixth. ''To lose three in a row is pretty tough.''

The Rockies lost a 4-2 lead.

''That makes it tough to swallow,'' manager Clint Hurdle said. ''We're just not able to do enough good things when we need to.''


''We're making it real hard on ourselves,'' shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said. ''We don't control our destiny anymore. We'll need help from others.''


''We're playing the spoiler, and I would say that's one we probably spoiled,'' said Atlanta's Kelly Johnson , who had a triple.


''Right now I'm just thinking about quality starts,'' Jurrjens said. ''I just want to finish strong. I'm not going to stress, just have fun and throw strikes and try to give my team a chance to win.''


''I think it's the hardest he's thrown all year,'' Cox said. ''He hit 95 (mph) three or four times.''



Johnson hit a triple over Brad Hawpe in right field. Rusch intentionally walked Chipper Jones then gave up Brian McCann 's single to left, driving in Johnson for a 5-4 lead.

''I basically just left pitches out over the plate,'' Rusch said.

''I usually get ahead of guys pretty well, and the key is to make quality pitches when you are ahead and I didn't do that.''

Herges replaced Rusch and gave up Escobar's 10th homer, making it 8-4.

Jurrjens gave up three runs in the third.

Willy Taveras walked and moved to third on Jeff Baker 's single. Matt Holliday drove in both with a double to right and scored on Garrett Atkins ' single for a 3-2 lead.

Hawpe's 25th homer in the fifth made it 4-2.

Atlanta's Jeff Francoeur stranded eight runners in his first three at-bats.




