It was one of the hottest first pitches on record in Coors Field history as the Colorado Rockies took to the field looking for their first sweep of the second half against the Kansas City Royals. The Rockies rode a six-run sixth inning in tandem with a vintage Kyle Freeland start in order to cement an 8-1 victory and bust out the brooms.
Today we’re all Kyle Freeland Guys, Gals, and Pals.
It may have been over 100 degrees on the mound at Coors Field this afternoon, but Denver native, Thomas Jefferson High School graduate, and ten-year MLB veteran Kyle
Freeland was as cool as ice.
On 115 pitches, Freeland not only threw his best start of the season by allowing just one earned run on five hits and two talks while striking out eight batters, he also pitched the first complete game of his career.
“Oh man. It’s been a long time, huh?” said Freeland after getting the final out before a well-deserved cooler bath.
Freeland struck out Royals leadoff hitter and designated hitter Carter Jensen to open the game and set the tone. The only time he found himself in real trouble was in the second inning when the Royals scored their only run of the game. Freeland gave up a walk and two singles to let Kansas City on the board. In the third inning with one out he gave up a double to slugger Jac Caglianone.
Then, Freeland locked in.
Following that double, Freeland set down a career-high 18 Royals in order. He was efficient. He was deliberate. He commanded both the ball and the strike zone. Freeland ended up striking out eight total batters–tied for his second-most this season–with six of those strikeouts coming on his excellent knuckle curveball.
“Right from the jump, he didn’t miss,” said catcher Brett Sullivan after the game.
In the top of the eighth inning, as Freeland’s pitch count rose, reliever Zach Agnos was up and warming in the bullpen. Then, quietly, the bullpen was empty.
“The conversation with Schaeff between innings was ‘Are you good? Do you want it?’ and the answer was an immediate yes.”
Manager Warren Schaeffer confirmed in his post-game interview that he planned to keep Freeland in the game.
“I was going to do everything I could to let him finish that game,” Schaeffer said.
Freeland came back out for the ninth and quickly got Caglianone out again, but then his streak of setting down batters ended when future Hall of Famer Salvador Perez doubled to right field. Freeland then appeared to have struck out veteran outfielder Starling Marte, but the third strike was overturned on ABS review. Marte then singled on a grounder to left. With runners on the corners and no outs, Agnos began warming up again. However, Freeland induced two quick flyouts to earn his first career complete game on his 251st career start.
Grinning ear-to-ear in his post game interview on the field with Ryan Spilborghs, Freeland was asked if he had a message for the Rockies faithful.
“I love you guys,” he said. “All ten years. I love you guys.”
After the game, skipper Warren Schaeffer was asked about Freeland’s role and leadership on this Rockies squad.
“It’s–I think–inherent for him since he’s been here for such a long time,” Schaeffer explained. “He’s been such an enormous presence in the clubhouse in the Rockies’ winning days, and then through this lull we’ve had in the past however many years, he’s been a constant leader in the clubhouse. Through thick and thin, which is the test of a real leader. Can you lead in distress? And he has. He’s meant the world to me as a first time manager. He’s been fantastic and I’m so happy for him today.”
Jake the Snake strikes hard in collaborative offensive effort.
With the weather as hot and dry as it was today in Denver, the ball wasn’t really rocketing out of the stadium like one would expect. The Rockies’ offense started fairly slow. Mickey Moniak drew a walk in the first inning and was driven home by a Cole Carrigg double. In the fourth inning, Edouard Julien drew his second of three walks in the game. Julien moved to third on a Brett Sullivan double and was then plated by an Ezequiel Tovar sacrifice fly.
Then the Rockies blew the Royals’ doors off in the sixth inning.
Back-to-back singles by Troy Johnston and Willi Castro, followed by another Julien base on balls, loaded up the bases with no outs for Brett Sullivan. Sullivan laced a double over the head of right fielder Jac Caglianone to score two runs and put the Rockies up 4-1.
After Tovar grounded out in what ended up being a hitless game for the beleaguered shortstop, off-season acquisition and potential trade name for tomorrow’s deadline Jake McCarthy came to the plate. In what was his only hit of the day, McCarthy sent the ball over the right field wall for three more runs.
Carrigg singled–his third of the day after going hitless with three walks last night–to keep the inning going and was driven home with an authoritative TJ Rumfield double.
Coming Up Next
Tomorrow at 4:00 PM MDT is the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline, with a potentially very different-looking Rockies roster ready to play later that evening. The Rockies will start a three-game series against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays. Right-handed veteran Michael Lorenzen is currently scheduled to start against Rays lefty Ian Seymour. First pitch is slated for 6:40 PM MDT.
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