Heyward's two-run single in 9th wins it for Braves

ATLANTA - Add two more firsts to Jason Heyward's heralded rookie season: a game-winning hit and a show of excitement.

Heyward drove in two runs with a two-out, bases-loaded single in the ninth inning, lifting the Braves to a 4-3 win over the Colorado Rockies yesterday.

The 6-5, 240-pound Heyward, usually stoic in his demeanor, bounced up and down between first and second base and soon was surrounded by teammates in the impromptu celebration.

"He's got fortitude like no other 20-year-old," said teammate Matt Diaz, who had three hits. "The best part about it was we got to see a little emotion out of him, jumping up and down out there at second base."

Said Heyward: "That's the way the story goes. When I do something like that, I expect to get mobbed."

The celebration continued as Heyward was hit in his face by a shaving cream pie from Eric Hinske. "You don't get shaving cream after you lose," said Heyward, who also was covered in shaving cream after he hit a homer with his first swing in the Braves' opening game.

Heyward looked at four straight pitches - two balls and two strikes - before lining the game-ending hit to leftfield off Franklin Morales. The single drove in Martin Prado from third base and pinch runner Brooks Conrad from second.

"He only had the one swing, but it was a good one," Braves manager Bobby Cox said.

Heyward, hitting .302, was 1-for-3 with three RBIs and two walks. He moved into a tie for second in the NL with 15 RBIs.

The Braves won two of three against Colorado, which won 4-0 Saturday night behind Ubaldo Jimenez's no-hitter.

Trailing 3-2, the Braves rallied against Morales (0-1), the Rockies' fill-in closer who loaded the bases by giving up a single and two walks.

Eric O'Flaherty (1-0) pitched a scoreless ninth in relief of Jair Jurrjens.

Prado led off the ninth with a single to left off Morales. After an out and with Brian McCann at the plate, Morales balked, sending Prado to second base and bringing Rockies manager Jim Tracy on the field for an animated but brief argument with second-base umpire Damien Beal.

After McCann walked, Prado advanced to third on Troy Glaus' fielder's choice. Yunel Escobar walked on four straight balls to set up Heyward's bases-loaded single.

Morales has blown two of his four save opportunities. He is filling in for Huston Street, who is recovering from right shoulder stiffness.