Freeland’s pitching, Arenado’s power help Rockies stretch their red-hot roll
ROCKIES 3, ATHLETICS 1
The Rockies are playing pennant-race baseball and they’re thriving. Over the last month they have won 17 of their last 22 games, and they seem to grow more confident with every victory.
Friday night, behind another stellar start from Kyle Freeland and a milestone home run from third baseman Nolan Arenado, the Rockies beat Oakland 3-1 in front of 40,229 fans at Coors Field. Colorado snapped the Athletics’ six-game winning streak.
And — oh, yes — reliever Scott Oberg got four crucial outs over the seventh and the eighth innings to keep the lead. Oberg, his ERA down to 2.97, struck out Matt Chapman looking at a nasty slider to end the eighth — with the bases loaded, no less. It was that kind of clutch night for Colorado.
Adam Ottavino pitched a perfect ninth to earn his fourth save.
The Rockies remained two games behind the division-leading Dodgers in the National League West race. Los Angeles won 4-1 at Atlanta.
Freeland, the Denver native who’s found a home in LoDo, pitched six scoreless innings, allowing five hits, walking three and striking out five. It was not the easiest of nights for Freeland. He needed 110 pitches to get through six innings, and he had to play traffic cop. The Athletics put men on base in five of Freeland’s six innings, but time after time, Freeland was able to put up a stop sign.
In the first inning, for example, he escaped a base-load mess by
inducing Matt Olson to pop out to second baseman Garrett Hampson. Freeland’s best escape act came in the fifth, with a big assist from Arenado at third. Oakland jammed the bases on singles by Marcus Semien and Chapman and a one-out walk drawn by Kris Davis. Freeland has been adept at inducing double plays all season, and he got another one when he needed it most. Stephen Piscotty clubbed Freeland’s fastball into the ground, Arenado scooped up the ball and started a slick, five-fourthree double play. Freeland pumped his fist as he left the diamond.
Freeland has now forced 16 double-play grounders, having entered the night with 15, tied for third-most in the National League.
Arenado’s home run came in Colorado’s two-run fifth. A Charlie Blackmon double and an RBI single by Ian Desmond produced the first run, then Arenado drove a 454-foot shot off left-hander Sean Manaea. Arenado’s 26th home run, which gave him the National League lead, was his 100th at Coors Field. He became the seventh player to hit the century mark in LoDo, joining Todd Helton, Larry Walker, Carlos Gonzalez, Vinny Castilla, Dante Bichette and Troy Tulowitzki.
Colorado’s first run came courtesy of small ball in the second inning. A bunt single by Noel Cuevas, a double by Gonzalez (3-for-4) and a bunt single by Hampson to score Cuevas put Colorado on the board.