The Colorado Rockies won their fifth game and third series in a row with a 5-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners Saturday at Safeco Field. The Rockies have now won eight of their last nine games overall.
Noel Cuevas played the hero for the Rockies, with a three-run home run in the seventh inning against Mariners starter James Paxton, breaking a 1-1 tie. It was just the second home run of Cuevas’ career.
The long ball from Cuevas meant that another strong pitching performance from the Rockies was not in vain. Kyle Freeland allowed just a solo home run to Jean Segura in five innings of work and Scott Oberg, Adam Ottavino and Wade Davis combined to pitch four scoreless innings of relief to close out the victory.
Kyle Freeland stays hot
While he didn’t have his best outing of the season by any means, Rockies starter Kyle Freeland kept the Mariners offense at bay for five innings, allowing just one run on five hits with four walks and four strikeouts. He was pulled after five innings having thrown 98 pitches, 56 for strikes. He lowered his ERA to 3.18 on the season with one start left before the All-Star Break.
Noel Cuevas goes deep
With the top of the Rockies lineup struggling against Seattle starter James Paxton, it was up to the bottom of the order to come through, which Cuevas did in the seventh. A walk and a single put runners on the corners with one out in a 1-1 game and, after failing at a bunt attempt, Cuevas took Paxton deep for his second home run of the season, giving the Rockies a 4-1 lead they would not relinquish.
Noel hates tie games. pic.twitter.com/de0fy9Uvos
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) July 7, 2018
Looking ahead
The Rockies will look for their sixth straight win and a sweep of the Mariners tomorrow afternoon. Antonio Senzatela will make his second start of the season against Seattle’s Wade LeBlanc. First pitch is scheduled for 2:10 p.m. Mountain time.