Freeman, the rookie first baseman, hit four homers and drove in seven runs in the series. His third-inning homer was the highlight of a five-run inning that knocked Juan Nicasio (3-2) out of the game. Nicasio gave up six straight hits in the inning.

Tim Hudson (8-6) pitched 71/3 innings, giving up five hits and three runs, to win his third straight decision. Craig Kimbrel pitched the ninth for his 27th save, the most in the majors.

Kimbrel passed Boston’s Jonathan Papelbon for the most saves by a rookie before the all-star break since 1969. Papelbon had 26 saves before the break in 2006.

Heyward and Freeman each had three hits for Atlanta, which enjoyed an offensive resurgence while scoring four or more runs in every game of its 6-1 homestand. The Braves outscored the Rockies, 15-4, in the final two games of the series.

Jason Giambi, starting at first base for Todd Helton, drove in two runs. The Rockies took a 1-0 lead in the first when Giambi’s RBI double scored Jonathan Herrera from first. Giambi’s fielder’s choice grounder in the third drove in Ty Wigginton.

Nicasio intentionally walked Nate McLouth to load the bases in the second, but he escaped the jam by striking out Hudson. Nicasio gave up five runs on seven hits and three walks in 21/3 innings.

Alex Gonzalez and Heyward had run-scoring singles in the Braves’ five-run third inning. Heyward hit his ninth homer in the fifth.

Eric O’Flaherty took over for Hudson with one out in the eighth. O’Flaherty’s wild pitch with the bases loaded allowed Mark Ellis to score from third.

The Braves’ only other four-game sweep of the Rockies came on May 6-9, 1993, in Colorado.

Braves 6, Rockies 3

Colorado 101 000 010 – 3 6 1

Atlanta 005 010 00x – 6 12 1

Colorado AB   R   H   BI   BB   SO   Avg.   

Blackmon lf 2   0   1   0   0   0   .255   

1-Wigginton pr-lf 3   1   0   0   0   1   .251   

J.Herrera ss 4   1   2   0   1   1   .253   

Giambi 1b 5   0   1   2   0   1   .274   

S.Smith rf 3   0   0   0   1   1   .298   

M.Ellis 2b 3   1   0   0   1   0   .393   

I.Stewart 3b 4   0   1   0   0   0   .086   

Spilborghs cf 3   0   0   0   1   0   .214   

Iannetta c 4   0   0   0   0   0   .221   

Nicasio p 1   0   0   0   0   1   .143   

HOUSTON (AP) — Atlanta left fielder Martin Prado was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday with a staph infection in his right calf.

Prado had a procedure in Atlanta on Friday to clean out the infection. He is being treated with antibiotics.

He was examined by doctors from the Marlins in Florida and they sent him to Atlanta on Thursday night so he could prepare for Friday’s procedure.

“I think that our trainers and the Marlins’ doctors that saw him in Florida and our doctors in Atlanta I think got it in the beginning stages of it and now it’s just a matter of pumping him with some antibiotics and some fluids and getting him healthy,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said he thinks the infection stemmed from a skin burn Prado got from a slide. The manager said it was a bit surprising how fast it went from being a relatively minor problem to a staph infection.

“On Tuesday he’s getting treated for a … raspberry and then just that quickly that thing turned from just being a raspberry to being a pretty serious infection,” Gonzalez said. “I think our people got on it pretty early and took care of it. So hopefully we got it early enough for it not to be worse than what it could be.”

Prado missed Atlanta’s previous two games with a sore left knee. The move is retroactive to Wednesday.

Prado is batting .277 with eight homers and 33 RBIs this season.

Infielder Brandon Hicks was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett to take his roster spot. Hicks was scheduled to arrive in Houston on Friday night. Gonzalez said Hicks, who was batting .252 with eight homers and 18 RBIs, can play second base, third base and shortstop.

Also on Friday, outfielder Jason Heyward, who is on the disabled list with a right shoulder injury, took swings off a tee for the first time since he was injured. Gonzalez said it’s too soon to say when he will return, but that he felt good after taking 70 swings.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

HOUSTON (AP) — Atlanta left fielder Martin Prado was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday with a staph infection in his right calf.

Prado had a procedure in Atlanta on Friday to clean out the infection. He is being treated with antibiotics.

He was examined by doctors from the Marlins in Florida and they sent him to Atlanta on Thursday night so he could prepare for Friday’s procedure.

“I think that our trainers and the Marlins’ doctors that saw him in Florida and our doctors in Atlanta I think got it in the beginning stages of it and now it’s just a matter of pumping him with some antibiotics and some fluids and getting him healthy,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said he thinks the infection stemmed from a skin burn Prado got from a slide. The manager said it was a bit surprising how fast it went from being a relatively minor problem to a staph infection.

“On Tuesday he’s getting treated for a … raspberry and then just that quickly that thing turned from just being a raspberry to being a pretty serious infection,” Gonzalez said. “I think our people got on it pretty early and took care of it. So hopefully we got it early enough for it not to be worse than what it could be.”

Prado missed Atlanta’s previous two games with a sore left knee. The move is retroactive to Wednesday.

Prado is batting .277 with eight homers and 33 RBIs this season.

Infielder Brandon Hicks was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett to take his roster spot. Hicks was scheduled to arrive in Houston on Friday night. Gonzalez said Hicks, who was batting .252 with eight homers and 18 RBIs, can play second base, third base and shortstop.

Also on Friday, outfielder Jason Heyward, who is on the disabled list with a right shoulder injury, took swings off a tee for the first time since he was injured. Gonzalez said it’s too soon to say when he will return, but that he felt good after taking 70 swings.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

NEW YORK (AP) — Atlanta Braves outfielder Jordan Schafer is day
to day with a small sinus fracture after fouling a bunt off his
face.
Schafer is not in the starting lineup for Saturday night’s game
against the New York Mets, but the Braves say there is no serious
damage to his nose or eyes and he will not need to go on the
disabled list.
He could be available as a pinch-runner or defensive
replacement, and manager Fredi Gonzalez says he might put Schafer
back in the lineup Sunday night.
Schafer was taken to a hospital Friday night after a frightening
scene at Citi Field, but tests brought good news for the Braves,
who already are missing injured outfielders Jason Heyward and Nate
McLouth.
Joe Mather was set to start in center field Saturday.

Center fielder listed day to day

By MIKE FITZPATRICK

AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK — Atlanta Braves outfielder Jordan Schafer is day to day with a small sinus fracture after fouling a bunt off his face.

Schafer was not in the starting lineup Saturday night against the New York Mets, but the Braves said there is no serious damage to his nose or eyes and he will not need to go on the disabled list.

“I feel very fortunate,” Schafer said. “I thought something was seriously wrong last night.”

He could be available as a pinch-runner or defensive replacement, and manager Fredi Gonzalez said he might put Schafer back in the lineup tonight.

“I’d like to get him in there as soon as you can, you know?” Gonzalez said. “If he feels good, maybe tomorrow.”

Schafer was taken to a hospital Friday night after a frightening scene at Citi Field, but tests brought good news for the Braves, who already are missing injured outfielders Jason Heyward and Nate McLouth.

Joe Mather started in center field Saturday.

Schafer was called up from Triple-A Gwinnett on May 24 and was batting .229 with one RBI in 35 at-bats. The Braves say he has a small, non-displaced sinus fracture on the right side of his face, and he will take over-the-counter medicine and antibiotics to prevent a sinus infection.

Schafer was at Citi Field on Saturday and had a black-and-blue mark under his right eye. He said ice has helped the swelling go down.

“I don’t know how, but everything is OK,” Schafer said. “Thank God.”

The leadoff batter was hurt in the fifth inning Friday night when he squared around to bunt. Jonathon Niese’s pitch tailed in toward Schafer, and the ball deflected off his bat and hit him squarely in the face.

Schafer was down for about a minute as a Braves trainer attended to him. The center fielder was assisted toward the dugout with a towel pressed tight to his face. He looked down and saw blood all over his batting gloves, and couldn’t tell if his teeth were loose.

But by Saturday, he felt much better.

“I’m good,” Schafer said, adding that he’d like to play Sunday. “I don’t have a headache anymore.”

Eric Hinske took over the at-bat and struck out, then hit a tiebreaking homer off Francisco Rodriguez in the ninth inning of Atlanta’s 6-3 victory.

Schafer said he slept fine Friday night and he’s not in any pain. But he hasn’t watched a replay.

“I don’t know if I want to see it,” he said.

In other news, Gonzalez watched right-hander Brandon Beachy throw 60 pitches in a side session. It was Beachy’s third bullpen session since he was injured, but he said it was the first time he really cranked it up. He said he felt perfectly normal and hopes to throw batting practice in a few days.

“Felt smooth,” Beachy said. “It felt good to be back up there again.”

Beachy has been on the disabled list since May 14 with a strained muscle on his left side. He will need to make at least two or three minor league rehab appearances before returning to the rotation, so he might be back by the end of the month, Gonzalez said.

Updated Jun 4, 2011 7:48 PM ET

NEW YORK (AP)

Atlanta Braves outfielder Jordan Schafer is day to day with a small sinus fracture after fouling a bunt off his face.

Schafer was not in the starting lineup Saturday night against the New York Mets, but the Braves said there is no serious damage to his nose or eyes and he will not need to go on the disabled list.

”I feel very fortunate,” Schafer said. ”I thought something was seriously wrong last night.”

He could be available as a pinch-runner or defensive replacement, and manager Fredi Gonzalez said he might put Schafer back in the lineup Sunday night.

”I’d like to get him in there as soon as you can, you know?” Gonzalez said. ”If he feels good, maybe tomorrow.”

Schafer was taken to a hospital Friday night after a frightening scene at Citi Field, but tests brought good news for the Braves, who already are missing injured outfielders Jason Heyward and Nate McLouth.

Joe Mather started in center field Saturday.

Schafer was called up from Triple-A Gwinnett on May 24 and was batting .229 with one RBI in 35 at-bats. The Braves say he has a small, non-displaced sinus fracture on the right side of his face, and he will take over-the-counter medicine and antibiotics to prevent a sinus infection.

Schafer was at Citi Field on Saturday and had a black-and-blue mark under his right eye. He said ice has helped the swelling go down.

”I don’t know how, but everything is OK,” Schafer said. ”Thank God.”

The leadoff batter was hurt in the fifth inning Friday night when he squared around to bunt. Jonathon Niese’s pitch tailed in toward Schafer, and the ball deflected off his bat and hit him squarely in the face.

Schafer was down for about a minute as a Braves trainer attended to him. The center fielder was assisted toward the dugout with a towel pressed tight to his face. He looked down and saw blood all over his batting gloves, and couldn’t tell if his teeth were loose.

But by Saturday, he felt much better.

”I’m good,” Schafer said, adding that he’d like to play Sunday. ”I don’t have a headache anymore.”

Eric Hinske took over the at-bat and struck out, then hit a tiebreaking homer off Francisco Rodriguez in the ninth inning of Atlanta’s 6-3 victory.

Schafer said he slept fine Friday night and he’s not in any pain. But he hasn’t watched a replay.

”I don’t know if I want to see it,” he said.

In other news, Gonzalez watched right-hander Brandon Beachy throw 60 pitches in a side session. It was Beachy’s third bullpen session since he was injured, but he said it was the first time he really cranked it up. He said he felt perfectly normal and hopes to throw batting practice in a few days.

”Felt smooth,” Beachy said. ”It felt good to be back up there again.”

Beachy has been on the disabled list since May 14 with a strained muscle on his left side. He will need to make at least two or three minor league rehab appearances before returning to the rotation, so he might be back by the end of the month, Gonzalez said.