Freeland shines, Story slams as Rockies even series with Padres

DENVER – The Colorado Rockies have not yet played well at home in 2018, and it was up to a Denver native, starting pitcher Kyle Freeland, to do something about that on Tuesday night.

Another cold and rainy one didn’t seem to bother the kid who grew up in these conditions, pitching the best game of his season and completely dominating the San Diego Padres from his first pitch to his last one in an 8-0 victory for the home team.

It was exactly what manager Bud Black wanted to see after taking a drubbing the night before by a score of 13-5.

This is how you respond.

After everything that has gone against them, the Rockies finally found themselves on the other side of the luck coin in the first inning. It looked like Chris Iannetta had grounded into an inning-ending double play, but the relay throw from Jose Pirela was in the dirt, and Colorado was able to score a pair of runs. Charlie Blackmon, who had singled, and Nolan Arenado, who walked, plated the runs.

But Colorado earned their runs in the second, not quite putting together a frame like the one they experienced in the seventh the night before, but still getting a measure of revenge.

It started with Noel Cuevas’ first career base hit. He might have reached second but slipped and fell at first in a somewhat humorous moment. He was advanced on a sac bunt from Freeland anyway and scored on a two-out base hit up the middle from DJ LeMahieu.

Blackmon and Arenado kept the pressure on by recording another single and walk, respectively. Then Trevor Story, who has been hitting cleanup against lefties to great results since midway through last season, smashed his second big home run in as many days, a grand slam that gave the Rockies a 7-0 lead.

It was Story’s sixth home run of the season and brought him to 18 RBI.

The Rockies picked up another run in the fifth on a two-out triple from David Dahl who was singled in by Ian Desmond.

Bryan Shaw came on and struck out the side in the eighth, the best he has looked since donning Rockies’ purple. Brooks Pounders made his Colorado Rockies debut in the ninth and finished the job.

With the win, Colorado is back over .500 at 13-12 and has a chance to win their first home series of the season if they can emerge victorious on Wednesday.

Final Stats:

Kyle Freeland: 7 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K

Bryan Shaw: 1 IP, 3 K

Trevor Story: 1-for-3, 1 R, 4 RBI, HR (6)

Charlie Blackmon: 2-for-4, 2 R

DJ LeMahieu: 1-for-3, R, RBI

Ian Desmond: 1-for-4, RBI

Noel Cuevas: 2-for-4, R

What’s Next:

Jon Gray continues the search for his best self in the series finale with the Padres on Wednesday afternoon. Tyson Ross, who flirted with a no-hitter in his last appearance, takes the mound for San Diego. First pitch is at 1:10 Mountain Time.