Freeland, Rockies cut down Giants
DENVER — In between starts, the message to Kyle Freeland was rather low-key. As in, low was the key. Freeland kept the ball down while pitching seven sharp innings, Gerardo Parra hit a two-run homer and the Colorado Rockies beat San Francisco 8-0 on Sunday for their first three-game sweep of the Giants at Coors Field since 2002.
Freeland (2-1) mixed a wicked sinker with a two-seam fastball to get 12 groundouts and three strikeouts. The Denver native allowed six hits and shattered three bats on a day when the Giants changed their lineup to try to break out of a hitting funk. It didn’t work as they lost for the sixth time in seven games.
“Moving forward, that should be a big part of Kyle’s game — the ground ball,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “He did a great job.”
Colorado leads the NL West with a 13-6 mark. It’s tied for the second-best start in franchise history.
Then again, the Rockies have gotten off to hot starts before, only to drop off in late May or early June.
“I don’t gauge that as much as some people might,” Black said. “This is a different group.” DODGERS 6, DIAMONDBACKS 2: In Phoenix, Brandon McCarthy gave Los Angeles a much-needed strong start, Yasmani Grandal homered in a six-run fifth inning and the Dodgers avoided being swept in three games in the desert .
MARLINS 7, PADRES 3: In San Diego, Justin Bour hit a three-run homer to cap the six-run sixth inning and help Miami.
PHILLIES 5, BRAVES 2: In Philadelphia, Cesar Hernandez, Aaron Altherr and Odubel Herrera hit consecutive homers in the eighth, Zach Eflin threw seven sharp innings and the Phillies completed a threegame sweep. REDS 7, CUBS 5: In Cincinnati, Bronson Arroyo, 40, pitched three-hit ball over six innings for the Reds. Arroyo (2-2) allowed Anthony Rizzo’s two-run homer — his third of the series — and struck out seven batters for the first time since May 13, 2014.
CARDINALS 6, BREWERS 4: In Milwaukee, Mike Leake allowed two runs over six innings and drove in two runs to lead St. Louis to its sixth win in seven games.
NATIONALS 6, METS 3: In New York, Daniel Murphy hit an early grand slam against his former team, Max Scherzer pitched eight fiery innings and Washington earned its seventh straight victory.
Ryan Zimmerman added a two-run homer for the Nationals, who completed a threegame sweep.
PIRATES 2, YANKEES 1: In Pittsburgh, Ivan Nova gained a measure of revenge over his old team, limiting the Yankees to just four hits over seven innings as the Pirates held on. Nova (2-2) struck out seven and walked just one.
RED SOX 6, ORIOLES 2: In Baltimore, a tempestuous three-game series between the Red Sox and Baltimore wound up with Matt Barnes being ejected for throwing a fastball behind the head of Orioles star Manny Machado in Boston’s victory.
ASTROS 6, RAYS 4 (10): In St. Petersburg,
Fla., Brian McCann and Yuli Gurriel both had RBI singles in the 10th inning, and Houston rallied from an early four-run deficit. Rio Grande grad Ken Giles got three outs for his fifth save. TIGERS 13, TWINS 4: In Minneapolis, John Hicks had three hits, including his first career homer, and drove in five runs to lead Michael Fulmer and Detroit over Minnesota.
WHITE SOX 6, INDIANS 2: In Chicago, Melky Cabrera drove in a pair of runs, Derek Holland tossed six strong innings and the White Sox busted out of an offensive funk.
RANGERS 5, ROYALS 2: In Arlington, Texas, Yu Darvish pitched eight innings in his longest outing since elbow surgery two years ago and Texas scored the tying and go-ahead runs without a hit, completing a four-game sweep.
BLUE JAYS 6, ANGELS 2: In Anaheim, Calif., Marcus Stroman pitched a sevenhitter and Devon Travis hit a go-ahead, tworun homer during a four-run eighth inning for Toronto. MARINERS 11, ATHLETICS 1: In Oakland, Calif., Nelson Cruz homered and drove in five runs, Taylor Motter hit his first career grand slam and Seattle routed the Athletics.