*Photo from the Daily Sentinel*
After getting out of a 6th inning jam, Kyle Freeland was finally able to let loose, screaming in delight as he walked off the mound. He had a right to after his performance. Freeland delivered shutout ball, Trevor Story homered, and the Colorado Rockies shut out the Washington Nationals with a 6-0 win on Saturday afternoon.
Freeland said of escaping the 6th inning that "No one wants to be put into a bases-loaded jam like that, especially with a veteran hitter like Zimmerman up. The whole time, in my mind was, ‘Try and get a comebacker to yourself, so I can keep a run off the board. Get a double play, give myself a really good chance to get out of the inning.'"
Before Freeland even took the mound, the Rockies lineup was able to give him early run support. It started in the first inning, with Brendan Rodgers hitting a two run home run to center field. Later that inning, CJ Cron scored on a fielders choice and error, and the Rockies took a 3-0 lead before Freeland stepped on the mound. In the 4th inning, Story doubled the lead, making it 6-0 with a 3 run home run to right field.
After struggling in his last two starts, Freeland turned in a dominant performance, throwing 6 shutout innings while allowing 7 hits and one walk, fanning 7 hitters. He got the win to improve to 6-8 on the season, another up in what has been a season of ups and downs. Yency Almonte, Robert Stephenson, and Daniel Bard pitched in relief of Freeland to lock down the win.
Rockies manager Bud Black, asked about why Freeland only went 6 innings, said that "He could have gone out there and tried to go seven, but he honestly told me that he was spent. Hey, it was hot today. It was humid. And he threw 20 really competitive pitches that inning. He emptied the tank, and he told me so."
Patrick Corbin got the loss in what has been a tough season for him, as he allowed all 6 runs on 9 hits and 3 walks, striking out 5 hitters while lasting just 4 innings, dropping to an 8-15 record. Ryne Harper came on in relief of Corbin and delivered two shutout innings, with Sean Nolin doing the same for 3 more innings.
This was an important mark for Nolin in his relief appearance. It was his first appearance coming out of the bullpen since 2014, being needed for a long relief appearance after being used as a starter for the entirety of the season so far. With so many Washington relievers struggling, Nolin was called upon, and he sure did his duty.
Nationals manager Dave Martinez was pleased with Nolin's relief work, saying postgame that "He threw really well. He mixed all his pitches. The big thing is that he threw strikes when he needed to. Both him and Harper did really well."
The Rockies and Nationals wrap up the season series this afternoon, with Jon Gray taking the mound as he gets the start for the Rockies, while Martinez counters with Paolo Espino.
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