Kyle Freeland pitched six innings, allowing just one run, and Sam Hillard hit a three-run home run as the Colorado Rockies defeated the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers 4-1 on Sunday.
Freeland (5-7) gave up an unearned run on three hits and struck out four, marking his ninth quality start of the season. The 31-year-old left-hander improved to 5-3 in his last 13 starts since coming back from a left elbow strain that put him on the injured list on June 23rd.
“The story of the game was Freeland,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “He pitched very effectively. He went in and out. Pitched on the edges. Not a lot of hard contact.”
Freeland pitched despite having a blister on his left pinkie.
“We were able to put something on it to guard the skin against the nail and allow some of that pressure to be alleviated,” Freeland said. “It held up all day. Felt good.”
Freeland gave up a base hit to Issac Collins in the second inning but then retired the next 14 batters.
“The movement on his pitches picked up from the second inning on,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “Kyle just steadily got better.”
Relievers Seth Halvorsen, Angel Chivilli, and Kinley combined for three hitless innings of relief.
“It’s absolutely awesome,” Freeland said of the young relievers. “They don’t flinch.”
Halverson pitched a clean seventh inning. Chivilli handled the eighth, and Kinley retired the side in order in the ninth, extending his career-high save total to 11 out of 12 chances.
Hunter Goodman hit a solo home run in the third inning off Milwaukee starter Freddy Peralta (10-8), tying the game.
Hillard hit a two-out, three-run home run off Hoby Milner in the fifth inning, giving Freeland a 4-1 lead. Hillard also homered in Saturday night’s game after replacing Brenton Doyle in center field in the fifth inning.
