In a crazy game of baseball, the Rockies avoid the sweep at the hands of the Diamondbacks by a score of 7-6. D-backs’ starter Robbie Ray was lifted after two innings with back spasms and Kyle Freeland pitched fairly well after the first, but it was Nolan Arenado who played hero today.
Kyle Freeland pitched fine
Kyle Freeland pitched six innings today, and had good middle innings. In the first he got roughed up a bit, giving up two runs, but after that he faced the minimum despite a leadoff walk in the second. Both he and Buddy credited his great changeup to his success in those middle innings. In the sixth, the wheels fell off. See why below:
That sixth inning though
The sixth inning proved to be costly for both teams, which ultimately was a win for the Rockies. After back-to-back 1-2-3 innings, Kyle Freeland started the inning off by giving up a double to Rockie-killer Ketel Marte. A wild pitch to Eduardo Escobar moved the speedy Marte to third, but it ended up not mattering as much because Escobar hit a two run homer three pitches later. Freeland got Christian Walker to ground out to third, but then gave up a solo shot to Wilmer Flores to make it 5-2 Diamondbacks. He then retired the next two batters.
Nolan and Mac hit jacks
In the bottom half of the sixth inning, the Rockies batted around too. Yonder Alonso got things started with a single and then was able to go all the way to third after Raimel Tapia hit a single and reached second on an error by Ketel Marte. Enter Ryan McMahon. McMahon launched the first pitch he saw from Yoshihisa Hirano 367 feet to left to tie the game. It was Mac’s second pinch hit home run this year and the fourth of his career.
After a walk and a blooper in the top of the ninth gave the Snakes the lead, it ended up being Nolan who played hero today. After Trevor Story was hit for the second time in as many at bats, Nolan “hit the mitt” in left field for the second time this season for the walk off win. He is the only player to have ever “hit the mitt” and he has done it twice this season. On top of the walk off win, UCHealth (via the Colorado Rockies Foundation) makes a $5,000 donation to the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Pretty cool stuff!
Up Next
The Rockies have an off day tomorrow before welcoming in the Miami Marlins over the weekend. Jon Gray is slated to start on Friday against Marlins’ righty Sandy Alcantara.