Rockies roll over D-Backs to extend lead in NL West

Kyle Freeland got in on the fun at the plate, too, for the Colorado Rockies.

Freeland pitched effectively into the seventh and had two hits as the Rockies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 10-3 Thursday to extend their NL West lead.

Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story homered and David Dahl had three hits and two RBIs to help Colorado retain a 1½-game lead on the Los Angeles Dodgers and a 4½-game advantage over the third-place Diamondbacks. Los Angeles kept pace with a 9-7 victory over the Cardinals in St. Louis.

Freeland played two parts: keeping Arizona’s offence in check until his left calf cramped up in the seventh and doing damage with his bat. He had an RBI double in the second inning and started a rally in the fourth with a bunt single.

Freeland (15-7) was just as effective on the mound. He allowed two hits through six innings and left with one out in the seventh after giving up two extra-base hits. A cramp that bothered him in the sixth inning flared up again, but he said he was fine. He was scheduled to face Clay Buchholz in the finale of the four-game series, but the Diamondbacks right-hander was scratched from the start because of tightness in his right elbow. Matt Koch (5-5) started in his place and allowed four runs on eight hits in three innings.

In American League action Thursday, Dylan Bundy had eight strikeouts in six solid innings and the Baltimore Orioles ended the Oakland Athletics’ six-game winning streak with a 5-3 victory Thursday night.

Stephen Piscotty homered for the A’s, who fell 3½ games behind first-place Houston in the AL West and 1½ back of the New York Yankees for the top wild-card slot.

Bundy (8-14) gave up two runs and six hits to earn his first win since July 29.