Kyle Freeland's strong start lifts Rockies to 3-1 win over Angels
Published in Baseball
DENVER — The parting gift for Colorado Rockies fans on Sunday afternoon was a gem from veteran left-hander Kyle Freeland and a crisp 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.
In the final game of the season at Coors Field, the Rockies managed only four hits, but it was enough with Freeland on the mound.
“It’s great to finish off with a win at home,” said Freeland, who earned the 65th win of his career, surpassing Jeff Francis for the fourth-most wins in franchise history. “It’s definitely not the season we wanted — at all. But it was nice to have a good quality baseball game, all around, to finish off the season at home.”
The Rockies (43-113) took two of three games from the Angels but still finished the season with a 25-56 record at Coors Field, the worst in the team’s history.
First baseman Blaine Crim, hitting cleanup, continued to make an impact. His leadoff homer in the fourth off of Los Angeles right-hander Caden Dana put the Rockies ahead, 2-1.
Crim also played a role in Colorado's runs in the second and eighth innings. In the second, he drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second on Jordan Beck's walk, scooted to third on Brenton Doyle's deep fly-ball to center, and scored on Kyle Karros' sacrifice fly. In the eighth, his high infield chopper -- a fielder's choice -- scored Mickey Moniak from third.
"Honestly, I'm just trying to put together good at-bats and do what the situation calls for," said Crim, who hit a homer for the fourth time this season and the third time in his last four games. Crim extended his hitting streak to six games, during which he's hit .368, with six RBIs and a 1.259 OPS.
Freeland's day got off to a rocky start.
Mike Trout, who hit the 400th home run of his career on Saturday night, led off with a double and scored on Jo Adell's single to right. But that was on the only run Freeland gave up over his six innings. He struck out Logan O'Hoppe and Christian Moore to end the first and started rolling. At one point, he set down 10 Angels hitters in a row.
"In that first inning, he punched out two to end it -- fantastic," interim manager Warren Schaeffer said. "Then, after that, it looked to me like he settled in. His breaking ball was really good, and I thought he was putting the heater where he wanted to. When 'Free' is good, that's what he looks like."
The lefty limited the Angels to five hits, struck out seven, and walked one. He escaped trouble in the sixth with the help of a brilliant play by rookie second baseman Ryan Ritter.
Taylor Ward led off with a single and advanced to second when Freeland gave up a one-out walk to Nolan Schanuel. But then Freeland induced Logan O' Hoppe to hit a grounder to shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, but Tovar's throw to second was low, forcing Ritter to make a difficult catch at the bag and make a whirling throw to first. Crim scooped up the one-hopper to complete the inning-ending double play. Freeland pumped his fist as he walked off the mound.
"Not the best throw from 'Tovie,' and then just an acrobatic, athletic play by (Ritter) to able to stay on the bag, and get that throw off," Schaeffer said. "And, for me, equally as impressive was the pick by Crim. If that ball gets by, it's a run, tie the game.
"So that was an enormous play. Fantastic play by Ritter, exceptional, all of the adjectives you want to use."
Freeland's strong performance was rare for a starter this season at Coors Field. Rockies starters posted a 7.48 ERA at home, the highest starting pitching ERA at home in franchise history.
The Rockies' bullpen trio of Jimmy Herget, Juan Mejia and Victor Vodnik blanked Los Angeles for the final three innings. Vodnik, who notched his 10th save, is coming into his own as a closer. He's converted his last eight save opportunities, tied for the longest streak of his career without a blown save, and he held opponents scoreless in his final 10 outings at Coors.
The Rockies are off on Monday.
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