Freeland's early success helps set stage for Rockies' 14-inning win

CHICAGO -- Before Sunday’s game became a desperate, and ultimately, successful search for the winning run, left-hander Kyle Freeland gave the Rockies reason to hope the future arrives sooner than later.

Freeland shut down the White Sox for 6 2/3 innings, allowing one run before his exit. Of course, the Rockies being where they are, Freeland left with the bases loaded in the seventh and reliever Victor Vodnik promptly walked in the tying run.

So Rockies gratification wasn’t instant, but at least it actually arrived. Michael Toglia’s sacrifice fly -- thanks to a deft Ryan McMahon slide -- in the top of the 14th provided a 5-4 victory over the White Sox.

“That was an unfortunate situation -- one, putting myself in that, then having to put one of our bullpen arms in that situation,” Freeland said. “Obviously, you don’t want to walk in a run. Victor knows that, and he felt terrible about it, but he was able to bear down on the next hitter, limit that damage and keep the team tied.

“Then we go 14 innings.”

Sunday’s victory salvaged the five-game road trip that began with two losses at Houston, then two more to a White Sox team that entered with the Majors’ worst record. With the Rockies owning the National League’s poorest mark, the finale seemed fitting.

There was much to highlight before focusing on Freeland, who could be on the way to something special long after this game is forgotten.

How delayed was the Rockies’ reward? The Rockies' last game of 14 or more innings was 16 innings on Sept. 24, 2019, at San Francisco -- an 8-5 Rockies win. Another game at San Francisco on April 12, 2019, went 18 innings, with the Giants prevailing, 3-2.

Sox starter Garrett Crochet went seven innings and struck out 11 to lift his Major League-leading total to 141. The Rockies struck out 21 times, which made them the first team to fan 20 or more times since Pittsburgh against the Mets on Sept. 18, 2022, and the first to win with at least 20 K’s since Arizona against St. Louis on Sept. 24, 2019.

Also, the Rockies benefitted from great defense. In the outfield, center fielder Brenton Doyle had two diving catches -- one in the sixth and one to save the game in the 12th, and left fielder Nolan Jones made a sliding catch in the sixth.

In the infield, Ezequiel Tovar, Aaron Schunk (making his first MLB start) and Toglia partnered for a double play to send the game to extras, and McMahon made a great play at third in the 14th.

Relievers Nick Mears (6.08 ERA entering the game), Justin Lawrence (who entered with a 5.53 ERA), Tyler Kinley (8.80 ERA prior) and Jalen Beeks (4.66 ERA previously) kept this one going into the late afternoon.

“It was a rough road trip,” Freeland said. “It ended on a good note. Some very hard baseball was played on both sides. The defense was incredible … The defense was off the charts, on both sides.

“Thankfully, we were able to come out on top and carry some momentum going forward.”

Freeland’s two good starts since his return from the 60-day injured list are beacons for the Rockies’ hopes of a finish to this year that could serve as a start to the future.

Freeland wasn’t as dominant this time -- two runs (one on Andrew Vaughn’s leadoff homer in the fourth) on seven scattered hits, with three strikeouts and two walks.

But he threw an efficient 53 strikes among his 80 pitches, and it was a winnable start for a club that soon will get back Germán Márquez from the 60-day injured list, should regain Antonio Senzatela before the season ends and has some starters to be excited about on the current roster (Cal Quantrill, Austin Gomber and the developing Ryan Feltner) and pitching prospects rounding into form.

Freeland upped the strikeout total in a career spent with the Rockies to 751, which puts him fifth on the club's all-time list -- ahead of Pedro Astacio (749) and chasing Ubaldo Jiménez (773). He also tied Jeff Francis for third in starts (185).

But one doesn’t pitch this long being the exact same guy.

While breaking into the Majors and helping the Rockies to the postseason in 2017 and 2018, Freeland lived by challenging right-handed hitters with his four-seam fastball and hard slider. He began Sunday with the same plan, then leaned on pitches he has developed -- at times haltingly: his two-seamer on the glove side and his changeup.

“He’s evolved,” said Rockies manager Bud Black, who spent longer at the park than planned on his 67th birthday. “You have to.”