"If any teams with trade interest in Braves pitcher Derek Lowe checked him out Monday night against Colorado, they surely were impressed for six innings.

Freddie Freeman and Eric Hinske homered in the third inning and the Braves built a 7-1 lead through six, then held on for a 7-4 win to open a four-game series against the Rockies at Coors Field.

It was the 13th win in 17 games for the Braves, who closed to within 2-1/2 games of first-place Philadelphia in the National League East. The Phillies lost 6-1 to the Chicago Cubs on Monday.

Hot-hitting Freeman must look like an MVP candidate to the Rockies, and not just a potential Rookie of the Year. The 21-year-old first baseman had three hits and three RBIs Monday to make him 10-for-19 with a stunning five homers and 10 RBIs in five games against Colorado -- all in the past 15 days.

"I guess it's just one of those stretches," said Freeman, whose two-run homer o straightaway center field sailed an estimated 442 feet. "I feel good. Everything's connected. I'm just going up the middle."

The Braves won all of those games against the Rockies, including a four-game sweep at Turner Field.

Lowe was charged with eight hits and four runs in 6-1/3 innings and collected his third win in four starts. Three of the hits against him were in the seventh inning and the last two runs scored after he left with the bases loaded."