In like a lion; out like a lamb.
After such a promising start to the season, the Colorado Rockies finished with a whimper — and it was the last-place Diamondbacks that provided the final blow. Colorado lost, 11-3, on Sunday to cap a frustrating, sometimes exciting and mostly strange campaign. The Rockies conclude 2020 with a disappointing 26-34 record (including a 15-31 slide after their hot start).
Freeland falters
Kyle Freeland entered the offseason a bit earlier than he would have preferred. The Rockies left-hander, who entered Sunday’s game on a roll, pitched just 2 1⁄3 innings and allowed a season-high six earned runs. Freeland’s previous high was four runs allowed, which he did three times this season.
It actually could have been worse, but Freeland worked out of a bases-loaded jam with no outs in the first inning. He allowed two runs to cross and then pitched a scoreless second inning. The third inning did him in, however, after he allowed four runs, including a two-run homer to Kole Calhoun. Freeland watched his ERA climb from 3.69 to 4.33 in the game, and he finished 2020 with a 2-3 record.
The much-maligned Rockies bullpen gave up a combined five earned runs in 5 2⁄3 innings of relief.
MadBum mows down Rockies
It was vintage Madison Bumgarner on Sunday afternoon. The lefty picked up his first win in a Diamondbacks uniform thanks to a listless Rockies lineup. Bumgarner threw five innings, but he allowed just two baserunners and struck out four.
Bumgarner entered the game with a 7.36 ERA (and lowered it to 6.48), and the only threat he faced Sunday was when Tony Wolters singled and Raimel Tapia doubled in the third inning. But Josh Fuentes popped out to end the threat.
Barring a three-run outburst in the eighth inning, the Colorado offense didn’t fare much better against the Arizona bullpen. Tapia was once again the bright spot with two doubles. Charlie Blackmon, who had a serious shot at batting .400 at one point this season, went 0-for-3 and finished with a .303 average.
Up next
Spring training. Hopefully.