PHILADELPHIA – The way Saturday night started, maybe it was possible that Rockies left-handed pitcher Kyle Freeland could make a fond memory in the City of Brotherly Love.
For two innings, his personal house of horrors, Citizens Bank Park, wasn’t so bad. He had a couple of strikeouts and a one-run lead. Then, what happens in Philly happened again.
Struggling Alec Bohm led off the third with a home run, and three batters later, Kyle Schwarber launched a three-run shot. When Bohm knocked his second homer in the next inning, the night became like all the rest in Philly for Freeland.
The Rockies’ 9-3 loss saw Freeland – 0-5, 6.23 ERA in six starts at Citizens Bank – tough out five innings and give up seven runs (six earned) and 10 hits that included the three homers. But Freeland, who once sustained an injury to his non-pitching shoulder while pinch-running in this park, didn’t blame the Liberty Bell, cheesesteaks or even Rocky Balboa.
“It’s [a] new start, new day, different year,” Freeland said. “I’m aware of my history in certain ballparks. I know this is one I don’t have a great track record in, but any given day, you can go out and shove it. Obviously, today wasn’t one of those days."
It was his third straight less-than-stellar start after his return from left shoulder inflammation that not only cost him two starts but scuttled a strong beginning to the season – 1-1, 2.30 ERA in three starts.
It started fine, with Willi Castro’s homer off Aaron Nola handing Freeland a 1-0 lead in the second, and Freeland tallying three of his four strikeouts in the first two frames.
“The first two innings felt great, felt like I was getting into a groove,” Freeland said.
The best that Freeland could take from Saturday night was that he got to five innings, after totaling 9 1/3 innings in his previous three starts since his stint on the injured list. He stayed in the strike zone, with 64 strikes on 87 pitches.
Where his pitches land in the strike zone, especially when he needs a quality pitch, is at the root of his struggles since returning from the IL (10.29 ERA). In his previous start, at home against Braves hitters who treat at-bats like gold that someone is trying to take from them, he uncharacteristically walked three and came out on the wrong end of several other tight counts.
“There have been a handful of at-bats that I’ve gotten into advantage counts – 0-2, 1-2 – and you need to do a better job of executing and putting them away,” he said. “Unfortunately, those handful of at-bats have turned into base hits.”
The first homer came on a 2-0 fastball to Bohm, who entered batting .159. After two soft singles, Schwarber jumped on a first-pitch sinker. Freeland then left a 1-2 curveball in the previously cold Bohm’s hot zone for the other homer.
Kyle Karros doubled in two fourth-inning runs, but ultimately Freeland wasn’t sharp enough to keep the Rockies in the game.
“It could’ve easily gone the other way,” manager Warren Schaeffer said. “He was getting ahead. He was commanding the baseball. That’s what he usually does, and gets quick outs. It was just one rough inning.
“It’s continuing to get better. Kyle’s fine.”