Today in 2002 - Colorado Rockies vs Atlanta Braves

Today in 2002, the Colorado Rockies took on the Atlanta Braves at The Ted, Turner Field in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Braves took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a two run homerun by Julio Franco.  The Rockies answered, scoring in the next three innings on RBIs by Gabe Kapler, Juan Uribe, and Todd Helton.  The score was now 5-2.

In the bottom of the eighth, Atlanta rallied and tied the game 5-5 on a solo homer by Chipper Jones and a two run single by Marcus Giles.

The Rockies answered in the ninth on an RBI double by Greg Norton. Colorado led 6-5. 

But the Braves would not be denied.  Greg Sheffield faced relief pitcher Jose Jiminez and hit a leadoff homerun.  The game was tied again 6-6.  Chipper Jones came up to bat and hit the game winning homerun.  Braves won 7-6.

John Smoltz got the win in relief and went to 3-2.  Jiminez was charged with the loss and fell to 2-8.

Atlanta went to 80-43 and maintained its lead in the NL East, 18.5 games ahead of the second place Montreal Expos.  Colorado fell to 58-66 and were 20 games behind the AL West leading Arizona Diamondbacks.

Notables

• This was Clint Hurdle’s first season managing the Colorado Rockies.  He would manage the Rockies until 2009.
  
• Braves’ manager Bobby Cox managed the team before this assignment started in 1990.  He managed the Braves from 1978-81.  Cox would manage the team from 1990-2010.
  
• Cox played for the New York Yankees in 1968 and 1969.
  
• Known for being a long time starting pitcher, John Smoltz was a closing pitcher from 2001-04.
  
• John Smoltz and Tom Glavine were the last two remaining players from the 1991 Braves, who went from worst to first.  They lost the 1991 World Series to the Minnesota Twins 4-3, in the bottom of the 10th in Game 7.

Game stats and other data are from Baseball-Reference.com at Rockies vs Braves - August 19, 2002