Denver, CO

Brenton Doyle, Tanner Gordon shine as Rockies beat reeling Braves

Published

2 years ago

August 10, 2024

Brenton Doyle, Tanner Gordon shine as Rockies beat reeling Braves

The usual suspects and one promising newcomer led the Rockies to a white-knuckle, 6-5, victory over the Braves Friday night at Coors Field.

The newbie is right-handed starter Tanner Gordon who set the tone for Colorado’s victory over the slumping Braves, who lost their sixth consecutive game.

The Rockies snapped their nine-game losing streak against the Braves, notching their win against the Braves since Aug. 30, 2022 (at Atlanta), and the first over the Braves at Coors since Sept. 4, 2021.

Center fielder Brenton Doyle, Colorado’s emerging star, and All-Star third baseman Ryan McMahon tag-teamed Atlanta reliever A.J. Minter to give the Rockies the go-ahead run in the seventh. Doyle led off, raking a double to left, and McMahon immediately followed with an RBI double to center.

Doyle also launched a two-run homer in the third, to join the 20-homer/20-stolen base club. Doyle has 21 steals. He didn’t shy away from the possibility of a 30/30 season, even though only 45 games remain in the season.

“It’s definitely in play still,” Doyle said. “I’ll just do my best to keep playing and keep pushing.”

Atlanta got the tying run to third in the ninth against closer Victor Vodnik but he struck out Austin Riley to clinch the game and notch his seventh save. Vodnik rebounded from a poor outing on Wednesday when he gave up three runs in a 5-3 defeat to the Mets.

Both Gordon and Vodnik were members of the Braves organization until they were traded in July 2023 for reliever Pierce Johnson. Neither player made a big deal of it.

“More than anything, I think it was exciting to play against the team I used to play for,” Gordon said.

If Gordon didn’t dominate the Braves, he certainly subdued them. He limited Atlanta to two runs on six hits over five innings. He struck out seven and didn’t walk any.

Marcell Ozuna tagged Gordon with a two-out, solo homer in the first, rocketing a 1-0 fastball 448 feet to center. But Gordon fanned Ozuna to end the fifth with his biggest out of the game.

“I just told myself to stay aggressive,” Gordon said.

Manager Bud Black was impressed with Gordon, who was coming off an excellent start at San Diego last Saturday when he allowed one run on one hit across six innings.

“He threw the ball well,” Black said. “His combination of pitches worked tonight. His fastball was sneaky. It was not quite as crispy as it was in San Diego, but his slider played tonight and he threw some good changeups.”

Atlanta had cut Colorado’s lead to 5-2 on a double by Jarred Kelenic and an RBI single by Whit Merrifield. When Jorge Soler dumped a broken-bat single into shallow left-center, the Braves had runners at the corners and just one out. Gordon got Riley to pop out to second baseman Brendan Rodgers in shallow right field, and then Gordon struck out the dangerous Ozuna on a nasty slider.

Doyle, the National League player of the month for July, continued his power surge. His two-run homer to center in Colorado’s three-run third traveled 432 feet. It was Doyle’s team-leading 20th homer of the season, doubling the 10 homers he mashed as a rookie in 2023. Doyle needed 431 at-bats to reach 10 dingers last season. He needed 456 to reach 20 this season.

Colorado tacked on another run in the third when McMahon walked, stole second and scored on Rodgers’ single. McMahon snapped his six-game and a 20 at-bat hitless streak, both his longest skids of the season.

An RBI double by Elias Diaz, followed by an RBI single by Charlie Blackmon, bumped up Colorado’s lead to 5-2 in the fourth.

The lead was erased in the seventh on a leadoff homer by Braves center fielder Ramon Lauerano off Justin Lawrence, and a two-run homer by Jorge Soler off Angel Chivilli.

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Saturday’s pitching matchup

Braves LHP Max Fried (7-6, 3.40 ERA) at Rockies RHP Dakota Hudson (0-3, 6.75)

6:10 p.m. Saturday, Coors Field

TV: Rockies.TV (streaming); Comcast/Xfinity (channel 1262); DirecTV (683); Spectrum (130, 445, 305, 435 or 445, depending on region).

Radio: 850 AM/94.1 FM

The Rockies will select Hudson’s contract from Triple-A Albuquerque so he can start Saturday’s game. The loss of right-hander Ryan Feltner to a shoulder injury prompted the move. Hudson, 29, started 17 games for the Rockies this season, but he struggled mightily and was outrighted to Albuquerque in early July after accumulating a 5.84 ERA and 1.64 WHIP — both the worst marks of his seven-year MLB career. Right-hander Cal Quantrill, originally scheduled to start Saturday’s game, will now start Monday night at Arizona.

The Braves are counting on Fried to keep them in the National League playoff hunt, but he’s struggling. After going on the injured list in mid-July because of elbow soreness, Fried pitched poorly against Miami in his first start back. Fried was rusty, matching a career-high with five walks over just 3 1/3 innings. He allowed five earned runs and four hits, including three in Miami’s six-run fourth. Fried has faced the Rockies five times (four starts), going 1-2 with a 3.00 ERA. He last beat the Rockies on April 9, 2019, at Coors Field, pitching six scoreless innings and fanning four in the Braves’ 7-1 victory.

Pitching probables

Sunday: Braves RHP Spencer Schwellenbach (4-5, 4.04) at Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (3-5, 5.65), 6:10 p.m.

Monday: Rockies RHP Cal Quantrill (7-8, 4.56) at Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (6-6, 3.92), 7:40 p.m.

Originally Published: August 9, 2024 at 9:29 p.m.

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Denver, CO

Richard Jackson Obituary | The Denver Post

Published

6 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Richard Jackson

OBITUARY

Richard E. Jackson, affectionately called “Jackson”, was beloved by his family, friends and colleagues. He passed peacefully surrounded by his wife and children. He was receiving exceptional medical care at City Park Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center at the time of his death. A devout Catholic, he received his Last Rights from Fr. John Ludanha of Blessed Sacrament Church and School.

He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Gannon University and a Master’s degree in Education from the George Washington University. For over 30 years, he was employed by the federal government, mostly as an analyst for the Social Security Administration (SSA). Other positions he held were: Beneficiary Services Specialist, Division of Medicare, Health Care Financing Administration; Public Affairs Specialist for SSA; and Management Analyst SSA Office of Management and Budget. After he retired, he was a consultant to the State of Colorado Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Jackson was a devoted father, step-father and foster father. He would take over the kitchen and cook spaghetti and meatballs, a family favorite, and then transport children to gymnastics practice and friends’ houses. He had a remarkable sense of humor, bringing joy and laughter to his home. He adored his wife and would leave her weekly love notes in drawers around the house. Exercising at the Denver Athletic Club, taking walks with his wife, and reading the New York Times were three of his favorite activities. He was born in Westfield, New York. His parents were Canadian immigrants. He was the youngest of eight children.

He is survived by his wife, Joycee Kennedy; his children – Kimberly Jackson (Mike Estes), Dawn Jennings (Ed Jennings) and Kevin Jackson; his stepchildren – Cary Kennedy (Saurabh Mangalik) and Jody Kennedy (Christopher Thompson); his grandchildren – Elizabeth, Chase and Drew; his step grandchildren – Kadin, Kyra, Bryce and Sena; and his first wife Madonna Smyth.

Services will be held at Blessed Sacrament Church – the time and day to be announced.

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Denver, CO

Students push for statewide

Published

18 hours ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Students from across the Denver metro are heading to the state Capitol to push for free after-school opportunities statewide.

The proposal would create a “My Colorado Card” program, giving students in sixth through 12th grades access to cultural, arts, recreational and extracurricular activities throughout the state.

For students like Itzael Garcia, Denver’s existing “My Denver Card” made a life-changing difference. He said having access to his local recreation center helped keep him safe.

Itzael Garcia explains how the My Denver Card program has helped him.

CBS

“We had a couple stray bullets go through our living room window, we had people get shot in front of our house, different things like that,” Garcia said. “Over the summer, being able to go to the public pool, it provided a space for us to all come together. In a way, it acted as a protective factor.”

The My Denver Card provides youth ages 5 to 18 with free access to the zoo, museums and recreation centers. For some, like Garcia, it has served as a safe haven.

That impact is why students involved with the nonprofit FaithBridge helped craft legislation to expand a similar pilot program to communities outside Denver.

“We really just thought that inequity and really distinct opportunity deserts for students was really important for us to correct,” said Mai Travi a junior at Thomas Jefferson High School. Another student echoed that sentiment.

“We have a lot of students in the program that come from Aurora Public Schools, and they don’t have access to the same cultural facilities that we have living here; opportunities that really define our childhood experiences,” said Jack Baker, also a junior at Thomas Jefferson High School.

Vernon Jones (right) speaks with students in My Denver Card program.

CBS

Vernon Jones, director of the nonprofit FaithBridge, said organizers are still working out logistics but hope to partner with counties across Colorado.

“This is a strategy to work for all of Colorado,” he said.

Denver school board member Marlene De La Rosa said the My Denver Card program has been impactful since its launch in 2013.

“For students that are on free and reduced lunch, the ‘My Denver Card’ can help scholarship some of their fees to participate in the youth sports at the recreation centers,” De La Rosa said.

Last year, 45,000 Denver youth had a card, accounting for 450,000 visits to recreation centers, outdoor pools and cultural facilities, she said.

“I think it is very beneficial,” De La Rosa said.

The Denver program is funded by city tax dollars approved by voters in 2012. The proposed statewide pilot would instead rely on donations and grants.

The bill has cleared its first committee but still needs approval from the full House and Senate.

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Denver, CO

Tempers flare during another tightly contested matchup between Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder

Published

1 day ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Tempers flare during another tightly contested matchup between Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder

OKLAHOMA CITY – The temperature of one of the NBA’s most heated rivalries got turned up a couple of notches Friday at Paycom Center. Things reached a boiling point with eight minutes left in regulation after Jared McCain gave the hosts a two-point lead. Thunder guard Lu Dort obstructed Nikola Jokic’s route down the court […]

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