CHICAGO — Hours before Kyle Freeland stepped onto center stage on three days’ rest and with the Colorado Rockies’ season hanging in the balance, his manager, Bud Black, was reminded that the 25-year-old left-hander was making his first postseason start against one of baseball’s most notorious big-game pitchers.
“Right. Isn’t that great?” Black deadpanned.
Standing between Freeland, the Rockies and a spot in the National League division series was the Chicago Cubs ace, Jon Lester, whose start in Tuesday night’s N.L. wild-card game at Wrigley Field marked his 22nd career playoff start.
Freeland, a Denver native, remained unfazed through six and two-thirds scoreless innings, desperately protecting a one-run lead the Rockies established in the first inning.