Rockies put together a complete package to beat Dodgers – Greeley Tribune

The Rockies were set to patent their 5-3 win over the Dodgers on Saturday night. The victory marked:

* Two rallies.

* The end of a six-game losing streak against the eternal kings of the National League West.

* A stormy start from left-hander Kyle Freeland, who dueled against Los Angeles All-Star left-hander Clayton Kershaw.

* Another save from Daniel Bard, who signed a two-year, $19 million contract extension earlier in the day. Bard has now made 22 out of 24 saves this season.

* An announced sell-out crowd of 47,415 at Coors Field for a game that lasted just 2 hours and 43 minutes.

* A 2-for-4, three RBI night from Randal Grichuk, who also saved Freeland’s Bacon with a terrific running catch in midfield to rob Max Muncy of a hit and end the sixth inning.

“As soon as it hit I knew it was in the gap and I decided to just take off and run,” said Grichuk, who extended his hitting streak to seven games and has driven in three straight games for the third time in his career.

“It wasn’t really one of those[pieces]where you don’t really understand a pearl, but luckily halfway through I felt like I could catch it.”

Bard had to earn his wages in the ninth inning. After retiring Gavin Lux and Jake Lamb, Bard dropped a double to Muncy before bringing Austin Barnes on to midfielder Garrett Hampson.

Sure, Freeland wants every start to be like his last appearance in Milwaukee, when he went seven innings scoreless and conceded just four hits in Colorado’s 2-0 win.

But Freeland’s number one goal has always been to outperform the opposing pitcher and give his team a chance to win. Freeland did just that and outperformed Kershaw.

“It’s Clayton Kershaw, the future Hall of Famer,” Freeland said. “It’s always fun to be able to compete against a guy of that caliber. And it’s always fun to win against the Dodgers. I love doing it.”

Freeland gave up three runs on six hits over six innings. He hit six and walked none, knocking Muncy to the floor in the second inning.

Early in the game, the fiery Freeland yelled at home plate umpire Gabe Morales.

“I just felt it was necessary at the time to check him out in his zone a little bit,” Freeland said. “It felt like he was giving Kershaw things I wasn’t getting. So I thought it was a good time to let him know that he needs to tighten it up and go both ways.

Kershaw, who looks like a mortal when he comes to Coors Field, hung around for 5 1/3 innings. Colorado beat him for five carries (three earned) on eight hits.

Kershaw’s downfall was the sixth as the Rockies ambushed him with four straight hits to turn a 3-2 deficit into a 5-3 lead.

Brendan Rodgers started the rally with a single left and Jose Iglesias blooped with a single right. Grichuk drove them both home with a three in the right corner, and Elias Diaz followed with an RBI single to the left.

Kershaw’s night was over and he came off the hill after losing a lead in 26 career starts at LoDo and owning a 4.82 ERA.

Freeland’s evening got off to a shaky start. He gave up an RBI double to Will Smith in the first inning and gave up two runs in the third with a solo homer from Trea Turner, followed by a double from Freddie Freeman and an RBI single from Hanser Alberto.

The Rockies will look to break up the four-game series against LA on Sunday afternoon.

The Dodgers won Thursday’s opener 13-0 and won Friday night’s game 5-4.

On boardDodger’s RHP Tony Gonsolin (11-1, 2.26 ERA) on Rockies RHP German Marquez (6-8, 5.25)Sunday, 1:10 p.m., Coors FieldTV: ATTRMRadio: 850 AM/94.1 FM

Marquez made his third straight start in his final game Tuesday in Colorado’s 2-1 loss to the White Sox at Coors Field. He allowed only one run over six innings, walking one and knocking out six. In his last six starts, the 2021 All-Star has lowered his ERA to 5.25 from 6.16 on June 24. He’s 3-3 with a 3.44 ERA over that span. Marquez hasn’t fared well in three starts against the Dodgers, going 0-2 with a 5.51 ERA. Marquez is 2-3 (the Rockies 7-7) in 14 career starts against the Dodgers, with a 3.56 ERA.

Gonsolin is coming off his first loss of the season, allowing four runs over six innings in a 4-1 loss to the Nationals. Despite this, he has had a remarkable season. He is only the sixth pitcher in Dodgers history to start 10-0 with an ERA of 1.54 or better, and his 11-0 start tied with Alex Wood for the best in franchise history. In his first 18 starts, the All-Star had 90 strikeouts in 99 2/3 innings. He’s 1-1 with a 1.93 ERA in five games (four starts) against the Rockies. In three games (two starts) at Coors Field, he is 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA and a 1.083 WHIP.

Trend: Second baseman Brendan Rodgers extended his home-hitting streak to 10 games Friday night, the second-longest streak of his career after 15 games earlier this year, from May 4 to June 2. Rodgers went 4-for-4 on Friday night, matching his career high for hits in a game.

In question: Backup catcher Brian Serven’s base hit Tuesday night against the White Sox resulted in a 0-for-19 drought. It reaches 0.061 (2 in 33) in July.

Pitching ProbabilitiesMonday: Rockies RHP Antonio Senzatela (3-5, 4.90) at Padres Mike Clevinger (2-3, 3.38), 7:40 p.m., ATTRMTuesday: Rockies TBA at Padres TBA. Double header., 2:10 p.m. and 8:10 p.m., ATTRM