ATLANTA _ Perhaps the first game back from the All-Star break wasn't the best choice for the Zombie Night promotion.
The Braves, after winning 13 of their final 25 games before the All-Star break, played a bit like the living dead in the early innings of an 11-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies in their series opener Friday at Turner Field.
After surprising everyone with efficient and effective performances in his first two starts for the Braves, journeyman Lucas Harrell lasted 32/3 innings against the Rockies and was charged with seven hits and seven runs, only five of which were earned due to his throwing error in the four-run third inning.
The rest of the Rockies' runs scored on Ryan Raburn's ninth-inning pinch-hit grand slam off Dario Alvarez, after Braves reliever Arodys Vizcaino left the game with an injury in his first appearance since July 6.
It was the Braves' ninth loss in their past 10 games against the Rockies, and dropped the Braves' majors-worst record to 31-59, including 13-35 at Turner Field. They got two runs on eight hits in six-plus innings against Colorado left-hander Jorge De La Rosa (6-6).
Harrell (1-1) also had three walks and uncorked two wild pitches, one of which let in a run in the two-run fourth inning. A.J. Pierzynski was also charged with a passed ball in that inning as the Rockies pushed their lead to 7-0.
Since arriving from Triple-A, Harrell had allowed one run in each of his first two starts, posting a 1.32 ERA and .156 opponents' average. He limited the Marlins to three hits in six innings of his Braves debut, a win against Jose Fernandez, then held the Cubs to four hits in 72/3 innings at Wrigley Field.
But the former Astros pitcher came in with a 6.53 career ERA in four starts against the Rockies, and that jumped nearly another full run Friday.
Carlos Gonzalez, in the 1,000th game of his career, went 3-for-4 with a walk and an RBI to give him a .343 average (36-for-105) and 25 RBIs in his past 30 games against the Braves.
De La Rosa was 1-4 with a 7.20 ERA in six road starts before Friday and came in lugging a 9.77 ERA in three starts at Turner Field. But since returning to the rotation in mid-June after a two-week stint in the bullpen, the lefty is now 4-2 with a 2.68 ERA in his past six starts.
The Braves had a couple of early scoring opportunities against De La Rosa, back when they trailed only 1-0. After a walk and a wild pitch put Adonis Garcia at second base with one out in the first inning, Freddie Freeman struck out and Nick Markakis grounded out.
After consecutive one-out singles from Pierzynski and Ender Inciarte in the second inning, Erick Aybar grounded into a double play.
The Rockies blew open the game with four runs in the third, beginning with a leadoff double from Charlie Blackmon.
