Freeland looks to elevate Rockies past Braves (Aug 26, 2017)
ATLANTA -- As a Denver native, Colorado Rockies rookie left-hander Kyle Freeland was accustomed to pitching at high elevation well before he got to the majors.
That why his unusual home-road split for a Rockies starter isn't as surprising as it might seem.
Freeland (11-8) goes into his start in Atlanta on Saturday night against the Braves with a home ERA (3.30) nearly a full run lower than his road ERA (4.22).
"You can't discount that," Rockies manager Bud Black said of Freeland's home-altitude advantage. "I think is really cool is that he is pitching in his hometown. You don't see that very much."
Atlanta has the highest elevation of any other major league city, so maybe Freeland will feel at home on the road as the Rockies (69-59) play the Braves (57-69) in the middle contest of a three-game set.
Colorado, which lost 5-2 Friday, has dropped 12 of its past 17 games and is 7-24 on the road after a 24-10 start. The Rockies, however, still hold the second wild-card spot in the National League.
Braves rookie left-hander Sean Newcomb (2-7) will start opposite Freeland in a rematch from Aug. 15 in Colorado in which neither pitcher got a decision in the 4-3 Atlanta victory.
Freeland was taken by the Rockies as the eighth overall pick in the 2014, while Newcomb went 15th that year to the Los Angeles Angels. He was traded to Atlanta the winter before last season in the Andrelton Simmons deal.
Freeland and Newcomb each gave up three runs in six innings. The Braves' winning run in the eighth innings was courtesy of a rare error by Colorado third baseman Nolan Arenado.
The runs against Newcombe came on solo homers by Arenado, Mark Reynolds and Trevor Story. Nick Markakis had a bases-empty homer off Freeland.
The start against the Braves in Colorado was the first for Freeland since a 10-day disabled list stint because of a groin strain suffered in the first inning of a home start against Philadelphia on Aug. 4.
Freeland took a loss at Milwaukee on Sunday, snapping a three-game winning streak. He worked 5 2/3 innings and gave three runs, one unearned because of his own error.
The Rookies have three rookies in the rotation and Freeland leads first-year major leaders with his 11 victories -- one more than teammates German Marquez and Antonio Senzatela.
"Kyle wanted to make a statement about wanting to be a major league pitcher right from spring training and he did," Black said. "He's done a nice job for us for sure.
Newcomb pitched five scoreless innings Sunday against Cincinnati, picking up his first home victory and snapping a five-game losing streak.
Newcomb allowed five hits and five walks, but kept battling.
"He's got a knack of staying in there and not allowing things to get out of hand," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "I love how he competes. He's not perfect, but he never gives in. His stuff is live. It's just stuff he's going to have to work his way through and experience. But you look and there's a lot there to like."
