Kyle Freeland, Rockies bullpen stun Dodgers to win series opener

A season’s worthy of roadworthy woes couldn’t spook the Rockies Friday night.

After a fantastic outing from starter Kyle Freeland, Colorado’s shaky bullpen unopen the doorway connected the Dodgers and claimed an awesome 4-2 triumph successful Los Angeles. The triumph improved the Rockies’ grounds to 59-69 connected the season, including 16-47 distant from Coors.

The Dodgers, having won 9 of their past 10 games entering the series, were stymied by Freeland, Jhoulys Chacin, Daniel Bard and Carlos Estevez. Following consecutive disfigured outings, Bard pitched a cleanable eighth inning and gave mode to Estevez for the save. Despite a leadoff azygous and a chaotic pitch, Estevez struck retired the side.

Freeland, who improved to 5-6 connected the year, stood adjacent the apical measurement of the dugout arsenic Estevez worked his mode done the ninth.

Catcher Elias Diaz homered successful the apical of the ninth for an other spot of insurance.

Outside of 2 mistakes successful the 3rd inning, Freeland was dominant. Aside from those 2 solo location runs, Freeland kept the Dodgers disconnected equilibrium and baserunners disconnected the pond. His last line: six innings, 7 strikeouts, nary walks and 2 earned runs.

Most importantly, helium gave the Rockies a accidental connected the road.

Deadlocked astatine 2 done 5 innings, C.J. Cron broke the necktie with a smash heavy into the Los Angeles night. Cron took vantage of a hanging changeup from Dodgers rookie Andre Jackson and launched it 482 feet to left. The extent of Cron’s solo changeable drew looks of astonishment from his teammates successful the dugout.

Nine of Cron’s 23 homers person travel successful August, which has seen the archetypal baseman thrust successful 30 runs.

Prior to the game, Rockies manager Bud Black shared an off-the-cuff scouting study for Freeland.

“I deliberation tonight, much than anything, against this lineup, archetypal transportation strikes, assertive successful the onslaught portion early, get the Dodgers swinging,” Black said. “I deliberation they’re astatine their champion erstwhile they’re deeper successful the count, taking walks.”

Despite the Dodgers’ overflow of talent, determination was hint of optimism fixed Freeland’s competitiveness and his dominance the past 2 months. Over his past 9 starts, Freeland had allowed much than 3 earned runs conscionable once.

Freeland was cruising until the third, mixing pitches and hitting spots connected some sides of the plate. But Dodgers catcher Will Smith turned connected 1 and drilled the left-field foul rod to get connected the board. Two batters later, Trea Turner matched him, sending a 92 MPH sinker heavy to near to necktie it astatine 2.

The Rockies didn’t hold agelong to pounce. After a leadoff azygous from Connor Joe to commencement the game, Charlie Blackmon came to the sheet and jumped connected the archetypal transportation helium saw. Blackmon cranked a two-run homer to close field, mounting the code for Friday night’s affair.