Kyle Freeland struck out seven over six innings, and Blaine Crim homered and drove in two runs as the Colorado Rockies closed their home schedule with a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday afternoon at Coors Field. The win spared Colorado the possibility of matching one of the National League’s most infamous records, though it capped another disappointing season for the franchise.
Oddsmakers had the Angels as slight -120 favorites on the moneyline, with the Rockies listed at even odds. The over/under was set at 11 runs, which stayed well under thanks to strong pitching and limited offense.
The Rockies entered the day with a chance to avoid tying the 1962 New York Mets for the most losses in a single NL season. They ensured that outcome by improving to 43-113 with six games left. Those expansion Mets finished at 40-120-1.
Freeland, who has endured one of his most difficult years, turned in one of his steadier performances. He allowed just one run and four hits, with his lone blemish coming in the first inning. A night removed from hitting his 400th career home run, Mike Trout doubled to lead off and scored on a single by Jo Adell. Freeland settled in quickly, retiring 13 of the next 14 batters he faced. He worked out of a minor jam in the sixth when, after a single and a walk, he induced Logan O’Hoppe to ground into an inning-ending double play.
Los Angeles starter Caden Dana kept Colorado hitless through the first three innings but struggled with control. Three walks loaded the bases in the second, and Kyle Karros lifted a sacrifice fly to tie the game. Crim put the Rockies in front in the fourth inning with a solo home run to left, his eighth of the season. He later added insurance with an RBI groundout in the eighth, finishing with two runs batted in.
Victor Vodnik pitched the ninth to secure his 10th save, closing out the Rockies’ final home victory of the year. Colorado finished 25-56 at Coors Field, setting a franchise record for most home losses in a single season. The previous mark had been 46 in 2012.
The Angels had chances to generate more offense but failed to capitalize. In the first inning, with runners on first and third and one out, Freeland struck out O’Hoppe and Christian Moore to limit the damage to a single run. Trout’s early double proved his team’s lone highlight, as Los Angeles managed only five hits on the afternoon.
The loss dropped the Angels to 70-86, and they concluded their final road trip of the season with a 1-9 record. They will return home On Tuesday to begin their last homestand against Kansas City, with a starting pitcher yet to be announced.
The Rockies will play their final six games on the road, beginning Tuesday in Seattle. Right-hander McCade Brown (0-4, 9.17 ERA) is scheduled to start the opener against the Mariners.
