SAN DIEGO — With the power to prompt a bundle of groundballs, Rockies rookie Kyle Freeland often leaves hitters sprinting for a base they will never reach. The 23-year-old left-hander has forced more earth-based hits this season than any other pitcher.
And on Thursday, Freeland capped a six-game, two-stop road trip — a swing dominated by Colorado’s rookie arms — with a commanding performance in the Rockies’ 3-2 victory over the Padres in 11 innings.
Colorado finished three-game series at Arizona and San Diego with a 4-2 record, with three of those victories coming in games started by a rookie pitcher.