Field Level Media
Jul 2, 2018
Kyle Freeland tossed seven strong innings to outduel Madison Bumgarner, and the Colorado Rockies used a late rally to beat the visiting San Francisco Giants 5-2 on Monday night.
Nolan Arenado had two hits and reached base four times, and Wade Davis pitched the ninth for his National League-leading 24th save for Colorado.
Gorkys Hernandez homered and Buster Posey doubled twice for the Giants, who have lost 12 of their last 14 at Coors Field.
Bumgarner and Freeland both tossed seven shutout innings last week in San Francisco, with the Giants winning 1-0 on Brandon Crawford's walk-off homer in the ninth. San Francisco didn't have to wait that long to go deep against Colorado on Monday night.
Hernandez gave San Francisco the lead when he homered on the first pitch of the game. The Giants extended the lead to 2-0 in the third when Posey doubled to left-center to drive in Brandon Belt from first.
The Rockies loaded the bases against Bumgarner (1-3) in the first and third innings, but Chris Iannetta flew out to left to end both rallies.
They finally broke through in the seventh. After pinch hitter Pat Valaika, DJ LeMahieu and Charlie Blackmon led off the inning with singles, Reyes Moronta relieved Bumgarner. He walked Arenado to drive in the first run, and Story's double-play groundout drove in LeMahieu to tie it at 2-2.
Crawford's throwing error on Ian Desmond's grounder allowed Blackmon to score and give the Rockies a 3-2 lead.
Colorado padded the lead in the eighth on Tom Murphy's RBI double and Blackmon's sacrifice fly.
Colorado nearly wasted another strong outing from Freeland (8-6), who has emerged as the ace with the struggles of Jon Gray. Freeland allowed the two runs on three hits, struck out three and walked only one.
He retired the last 13 batters he faced after Posey's RBI double. The homegrown lefty has pitched at least six innings in 12 of his last 13 starts.
Bumgarner allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits in six innings. He struck out five and walked three.
--Field Level Media