Rockies take one from Cleveland in good all-around game

In a well played all-around game, the Colorado Rockies defeated the Cleveland Indians by a score of 3-1. Kyle Freeland made his return to the mound after a back issue kept him out briefly and the Rockies rolled out as close to their expected Opening Day lineup as they have all Spring.

The offense was by no means overpowering but the young man trying to win the left field gig keeps hitting and the guys on the bubble keep battling for that final roster spot.

Turning Point – Raimel Tapia 2-run HR

Tapia remains one of the Rockies most consistent hitters this Spring. He turned on a second inning curveball and showed off a power stroke that had a bit more ferocity than last time we saw him. The home run was an absolute no-doubter, hitting half way up the lawn section beyond the wall in right center field. Since Ryan McMahon had just drawn a walk, it was a two-run shot that swung the game in favor of Colorado at 2-1.

Player of the Game – Kyle Freeland

Kyle Freeland looked very sharp in three innings of work. Most importantly, he didn’t have any setbacks with a sore back that forced him to exit his last start early and skip one. He made one bad pitch on a center-cut fastball that was sent over the fence but was otherwise hitting his spots and getting the kind of soft contact we’ve all seen when he is going well. He also notched four strikeouts, three on the change-up and one on the curveball.

He said the outing was mostly about working those two pitches so it seems it was a good day for one of the most important members of the 2020 roster.

Runner Up – Carlos Estevez

Carlos Estevez gave up a one-out single on a grounder up the middle that worked into no-man’s land in the outfield (runner was still barely safe at second) and struck out the other three batters he faced. He is second on the team in strikeouts with eight behind Phillip Diehl at nine.

Diamond Details

• Ashton Goudeau is getting a long look against MLB competition. He now leads the Rockies in innings pitched this Spring with eight and has posted a very solid 3.38 ERA. He has struck out five and walked three.
• Wade Davis tossed 1.1 innings, striking out a batter, walking a batter, and getting three flyouts. In 3.1 IP so far this Spring he has not allowed a baserunner.
• Bryan Shaw faced only two batters, getting a ground out to deep short and a strikeout looking. It was his second straight clean outing of the Spring.
• Ryan McMahon drew a walk, score a run, and produced about 800 feet worth of flyout.
• Charlie Blackmon hit a double in the first. He is off to a bit of a slow start with a .174 average.
• Tyler Kinley continues to impress, pitching his seventh scoreless inning of the Spring. He did not allow a baserunner and struck out one.

Final Thoughts

It’s starting to come together.

Up Next

Colorado will take a rare Spring off day on Monday and get back on the Diamond on Tuesday to take on the Cincinnati Reds at 1:10.