DENVER – Kyle Freeland continued his strong start to the season, finally earning a "W" to reflect the quality of his first three starts. With Freeland in midseason form and just enough timely offense, the Rockies put together their first three-game winning streak of the season, downing Houston 3-1 and positioning themselves for a series sweep on Wednesday.
Houston struck first, with Christian Walker unloading for his third homer of the season, a 371-foot solo shot to left that was one of only three hits yielded by Freeland.
Freeland pitched a season-high 6 1/3 innings, allowing the lone run and one walk while striking out five and improving his ERA to 2.30 over his first three starts.
Second baseman Willi Castro knocked in the first three Rockies runs, tying the game with an RBI single in the second to plate Troy Johnston – who reached on an infield single and advanced when TJ Rumfield walked, and then drove a two-run homer 436 feet to right to stake a lead the Rockies made good.
Mickey Moniak added a pair of insurance runs with his seventh-inning blast past the fence in right, and Antonio Senzatela closed the game with 2 2/3 scoreless innings for his first save of the season.