Colorado Rockies podcast: Rapid reaction to Kyle Freeland’s return

The Colorado Rockies were looking for a boost in their rotation with the return of Kyle Freeland. Even thought they had to wait out a weather delay on Saturday night in downtown Denver, it was a first inning to remember for the Rockies and their young left-hander.

Returning to a Major League mound for the first time since May 30, Kyle Freeland started well in his return. The Colorado Rockies offense looked ready to welcome him back as well, staking him to a four-run lead with six hits in the opening frame.

After waiting through a delay of three hours and eight minutes, Freeland walked to the mound with a determined look on his face as the Colorado crowd who stayed despite the long wait gave him a loud ovation. The 26-year-old southpaw surrendered an infield single to Nick Senzel to open the game but then induced Joey Votto to ground into a double play. A strikeout of Eugenio Suarez put an exclamation point on the first inning as Freeland threw 15 pitches, with 10 going for strikes.

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From there, however, things didn’t go so well for Freeland. After giving up soft contact hits for Cincinnati’s first three singles of the night, the Reds started squaring Freeland up. Cincinnati launched four triples in two innings (third and fourth) and likely had another taken away by an excellent jumping catch at the Bridich Barrier by Charlie Blackmon.

The four triples were the most surrendered by a Rockies pitcher in franchise history.

In all, Freeland lasted four innings, giving up nine hits and five runs. He threw 74 pitches, with 53 going for strikes. It was the very definition of a “mixed bag.”

Note: After the game, Freeland admitted he thought the delay affected him as well as mentioned he had never been through a three-hour delay before.

Click here to listen to our thoughts live from Coors Field. As a reminder, we keep the Rox Pile Rockies Report podcasts at less than 20 minutes. This allows a concise recap and takes into consideration the listener’s busy schedule.

Click here to listen to the latest podcast, recorded just after Freeland left the mound on Saturday night.