As if Rockies lefty Kyle Freeland wasn’t off to a great enough start to his MLB career, the rookie had a huge day at the plate in Cincinnati on Sunday as well. Freeland, who entered the game with a 4-2 record and 3.13 ERA, through three plate appearances had reached base three times and scored TWO runs thanks to a walk, a double and his first major-league home run.
Freeland doubled in the third inning and came around to score on a DJ LeMahieu single to get his day off to a great start. The run gave him the lead 2-1, but it was his next at-bat that was the most impressive of the day.
Hitting in the leadoff spot in the top of the fifth inning, Freeland hit a one-strike Bronson Arroyo slider over the left field wall to pad his lead and officially put him in the record books as a home-run hitter in the big leagues.
Take a jog around the park, Kyle! https://t.co/AQIlnIMQJl
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) May 21, 2017
Freeland walked his next time up and reached third on a LeMahieu double down the right-field line. Nolan Arenado struck out to strand Freeland and LeMahieu, but the rookie still took a 6-1 lead into the sixth inning nonetheless.
Through five innings Freeland was looking pretty darn good on the mound, too. On 71 pitches he had allowed just one run on two hits and two walks, while striking out two.