DENVER — The Colorado Rockies secured a series win and moved to within 2 1⁄2 games of the Arizona Diamondbacks with a 5-1 win Thursday at Coors Field. Kyle Freeland had yet another strong outing, allowing just one run on six hits in 5 1⁄3 nnings with one (intentional) walk and four strikeouts. He lowered his ERA to 3.11 on the year.
“For me it was a grind,” Freeland said. “But defense made great plays behind me, offense came through there in the sixth and did a great job of getting some scrappy runs and key base hits, it was an all-around good baseball win.”
The Rockies offense was kept at bay by Arizona starter Robbie Ray through five innings but broke through in the sixth with three runs, including a pinch-hit RBI single from Raimel Tapia against Diamondbacks lefty Andrew Chafin that gave the Rockies the lead for good.
“I trust Tap to put the ball in play against whoever the pitcher is,” Rockies manager Bud Black said.
Once the Rockies got the lead in the sixth, the bullpen — Chris Rusin, Adam Ottavino and Wade Davis — closed down the win, the Rockies 10th in their last 13 games.
Nolan Being Nolan
The Diamondbacks had a chance to extend their 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth against Scott Oberg, but with one out and a man on third, Nolan Arenado made another Gold Glove play, stopping a bullet off the bat of catcher John Ryan Murphy and then barehanding the ball and throwing home to cut down Steven Souza Jr. at the plate, keeping the deficit at just one run.
Sick barehand play by Nolan Arenado saves a run. Playing in and this ball was hit at 99 mph off the bat! pic.twitter.com/OO2tKcFOiq
— Jake Shapiro (@Shapalicious) July 12, 2018
“I already had it planned out in my head before, what I was going to do,” Arenado said.
Story Time
Another Rockies All-Star, shortstop Trevor Story, padded his resumé and the Rockies lead in the seventh with his 18th home run of the season, a solo shot to right field that gave Colorado a 4-1 lead.
“I’ve just been trying to have team at bats, hit the ball hard and help the team win,” Story said.
Looking Ahead
The Rockies will start their final series before the All-Star Break tomorrow night when the Seattle Mariners come to Coors Field. Antonio Senzatela will get the start for the Rockies against a Mariners starter that is to be determined. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. Mountain time.