Kyle Freeland, Rockies' bats power Colorado…
Kyle Freeland, Rockies' bats power Colorado past Padres
Denis Poroy / Getty Images
The Rockies' Chris Iannetta hits a two-run double during the seventh inning against the Padres on Sunday at PETCO Park in San Diego.
Rockies starting pitcher Kyle Freeland delivers during the second inning against the Padres at PETCO Park in San Diego on Sunday.
The Rockies' Trevor Story, right, throws over the Padres' A.J. Ellis as he turns a double play during the second inning at PETCO Park on Sunday in San Diego.
By Patrick Saunders and Denver Post |
September 2, 2018 at 9:15 p.m.
SAN DIEGO — Pennant-race baseball, with all of its potential for drama, joy and heartache, comes to Coors Field in earnest Monday afternoon.
"It's fun to play meaningful games in September, that's what you want, that's what you work for," Rockies veteran catcher Chris Iannetta said Sunday afternoon after his two-run double in the seventh inning sparked the Rockies to an important 7-3 win over the Padres at Petco Park. "You want to be in a situation where you can go out there and be playing for something this late in the year."
Colorado begins a critical 11-day, 10-game homestand Monday when it opens a three-game series against San Francisco. After a day off on Thursday, the Rockies host the Dodgers for three games, followed by a four-game set vs. the Diamondbacks.
The Rockies (74-62) are in second place in the National League West, a half-game behind the Dodgers (75-62) who beat the Diamondbacks (74-63) 3-2 on a walk-off, two-run double by Matt Kemp Sunday afternoon. The Dodgers have won five consecutive division titles.
Colorado won Sunday's game behind the consistent left arm of starter Kyle Freeland and an offense that finally executed at a high level, breaking out of its recent doldrums. It was the Rockies' 40th road win of the season, leaving them one shy of the franchise record, set in 2009 and 2017. Colorado has nine road games remaining.
"We played winning baseball today, and this was another complete game by our guys," manager Bud Black said. "We feel as though we are a contending team, and we feel as though we can play with anyone in the National League. We'll see how these next few weeks go.
"But this is good stuff. This is where we want to be. We know we are in a dogfight with the Diamondbacks and the Dodgers. Our guys are ready for it. The clubhouse is great and the guys are coming to the clubhouse with energy every day."
Colorado's key three-run seventh inning — highlighted by a double steal by Ian Desmond and Gerardo Parra and capped off by Iannetta's two-run double that skipped off the right-field wall — broke a 3-3 tie. Charlie Blackmon's RBI single scored Iannetta for the third run of the inning.
David Dahl's solo home run off Miguel Diaz to deep right field in the eighth iced the game.
Freeland has certainly had more impressive starts and sharper command this season, but he never let the game spin out of control. That's a trait the Rockies count on every time the left-hander takes the mound.
"I just kept sticking to my strengths, going upside with fastball and (throwing) changeups and sliders mostly," said Freeland, who was charged with three runs on seven hits over six innings. He walked two and whiffed three. "I got behind a ton of hitters, which didn't help, but we were able to hold them off to just three runs.
"I knew early on I didn't have my best stuff, so I had to make adjustments. I was able to do that."
Freeland improved to 13-7 and his 2.96 ERA ranks as one of the best in Colorado history at this point in the season. Since July 2, the Rockies have won 11 of Freeland's 12 starts.
"Today, Kyle didn't have his best fastball command, but I thought he and Chris (Iannetta) did a good job adjusting," Black said. "Kyle bobbed and weaved his way through six innings and gave himself to win this game."
Shortstop Trevor Story, fast becoming a supercharger, smashed a double in the fourth inning for his 69th extra-base hit of the base, setting a franchise record for a shortstop, surpassing the 68 extra-base hits by Troy Tulowitzki in 2011.
Story added an RBI double in the sixth to score DJ LeMahieu, snapping Story's 0-for-16 skid with runners in scoring position. Story now as 39 doubles, tying Neifi Perez (2000) for the most doubles by a Colorado shortstop. Story is batting .293 and his 87 RBIs rank second on the team to Noland Arenado's 92.
Freeland's season
Left-hander Kyle Freeland is having one of the best seasons in Rockies history. A snapshot of what he's done:
•13-7, 2.96 ERA, the lowest single-season ERA by a starter
•19 quality starts tied for fifth-most in franchise history and tied with Jeff Francis (2007) for most by a left-hander
•Has gone 4-0 with a 2.11 ERA over past six starts, with Rockies winning all six games
•Since July 2, Rockies have won 11 of Freeland's 12 starts and he's gone 6-1 with a 2.50 ERA over that stretch
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