Kyle Freeland gets 1st win in 3 months as Colorado Rockies beat Chicago White Sox 11-5

Updated Aug. 20, 2023 12:01 a.m. ET

Associated Press

DENVER (AP) — Kyle Freeland pitched five innings for his first win in three months, and the Colorado Rockies beat the Chicago White Sox 11-5 on Saturday night.

Charlie Blackmon homered as last-place Colorado earned its second straight win. Elehuris Montero had three hits and four RBIs, and Brendan Rodgers and Nolan Jones also had three hits apiece.

“A lot of contributions,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “Good to see.”

Freeland (5-13) was charged with four runs and eight hits in his first win since May 14 against Philadelphia. The veteran left-hander went 0-9 with a 6.19 ERA in his previous 14 starts, and in eight of those starts he came out of the game with his team having scored two or fewer runs.

“It’s been a while since I’ve had a win so it’s nice,” Freeland said. “Offense came out swinging and put up runs early and often. They did that (Friday) night as well so it was great to see them doing that for me.”

Luis Robert Jr. hit his 33rd homer for the White Sox, who have dropped six of seven. Elvis Andrus continued his hot stretch with two hits and a steal of home in the first inning.

Colorado scored three runs in the first and two more in the second off Jesse Scholtens (1-6).

“I walked five guys, I fell behind even more and I kind of put the team in a tough spot,” Scholtens said. “Down early and forced the 'pen out to cover a lot of innings."

Jones made it 5-2 with a two-run single in the second. Montero added a two-run triple in the fourth.

The White Sox have been outscored 25-6 in the first two games of the series.

“There is energy, at times we lose it but then we get it back,” Chicago manager Pedro Grifol said. “It comes and goes during the game and it’s really unacceptable. We’ll talk about that.

“As far as us not being together and not playing to win, these players come to work. And they work.”

Lenyn Sosa hit a two-run single for Chicago in the fifth, but Blackmon responded with a two-run shot in the seventh against Jimmy Lambert. It was Blackmon’s sixth homer of the season.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rockies: RHP Chase Anderson (right shoulder inflammation) threw live batting practice. He is scheduled to join Triple-A Albuquerque for a rehab assignment starting Wednesday. ... RHP Ryan Feltner (skull fracture) pitched live batting practice to an L-screen. He is slated to go to the team’s facility in Arizona to continue his rehab.

WELCOME BACK, TODDFATHER

Todd Helton threw out a ceremonial first pitch in his return to Coors Field as part of Colorado’s celebration of 30 years since its inaugural season. Helton played 17 seasons, all with the Rockies, and retired as the franchise leader in several categories.

Helton, a five-time All-Star and 2000 NL batting champion, retired after the 2013 season with a .316 career batting average. He fell 11 votes shy of making the Hall of Fame this year and hopes he gets the votes in 2024.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think about it because I do, but it’s also something I can’t control,” said Helton, who turns 50 on Sunday. “I’ll be blessed and grateful and every other adjective you can think of but until then I just go about my life.”

UP NEXT

The White Sox will send RHP Dylan Cease (5-6, 4.32 ERA) to the mound against Colorado’s Chris Flexen (1-5, 7.74 ERA) on Sunday to wrap up the three-game series.

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