Rockies 6, Giants 1: Ian Desmond, Kyle Freeland carry Colorado to victory

The Rockies won yet another road game with their patented 2018 formula to pull within half a game of the NL West division lead. Combine an outstanding outing from your starting pitcher with timely home runs and then let the bullpen bring things home. After allowing a lead-off home run to the Giants’ Gorkys Hernández, Kyle Freeland spent the rest of his night ruining the Giants dreams.

Ian Desmond decided to hit the pause button on his season-long slump again and drove in the first four Rockies runs. He hit a Earl Weaver special, the three run homer, in the fourth to give the Rockies a 3-1 lead and all the runs they would need. Charlie Blackmon gave Wade Davis the night off with a two-run homer in the top of the ninth to stretch the lead to 6-1.

Your Kyle Freeland has evolved

Our very own Jordan Freemyer wrote earlier today about Kyle Freeland’s progression and leveling up as a MLB pitcher this season. After a slow start to the season due to inefficient pitching, Freeland has turned things around and pitched into the seventh inning for his fifth straight start. While Freeland was slotted in the Rockies fifth spot in the rotation out of spring training, he’s evolved into a top of the rotation style pitcher.

For the season, Freeland now has a 3.17 ERA with stellar peripherals including an 8.17 K/9 and 3.00 BB/9. He has also averaged six innings an appearance, which is particular impressive considering some of his short starts early in the season.

Jekyll and Hyde meet Ian Desmond

The struggles of Ian Desmond this season have been extremely well documented and they continued through the his first at bat tonight and the first three pitches of his second. With Trevor Story at third base and less than two outs, Desmond failed to get the run across in the second inning. In the fourth it looked like a familiar trend. With runners at first and second and one out, Desmond took two balls before taking one of the worst looking swings at a curveball that I’ve ever seen from a non-pitcher. On the next pitch the monster came out and this happened:

The hitting monster continued to hold control through his next at bat when Desmond drove in the Rockies fourth run on a ground rule double to center field. For Rockies fans everywhere, hopefully this is finally the time he figured it out and it sticks.

#NolanBeingNolan

Does anything really need to be said here? I guess congratulations on a sixth straight Gold glove might be it?