Kyle Freeland did not need much help. He got plenty anyway. The left-hander worked all nine innings, and Colorado turned a tight game into a rout with a six-run sixth, beating Kansas City 8-1 at Coors Field.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KC | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| COL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | X | 8 | 9 | 0 |
Freeland allowed just 1 run on 5 hits over 9.0 innings, walking 2 and striking out 8. He improved to 3-10 with the win, carrying a 6.81 ERA. The Royals managed only two real scoring chances against him, and neither produced more than the single run they got in the second inning.
The game turned in the sixth. Colorado led 1-2 before erupting for six runs. Brett Sullivan doubled to right, scoring both Castro and Johnston to make it 1-4. Two batters later, Jake McCarthy homered to right field, a 387-foot shot that brought home Julien and Sullivan and pushed the lead to 1-7. TJ Rumfield added a double to score Carrigg, closing out the inning at 1-8. McCarthy finished 1-for-5 with 3 RBI, while Sullivan went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI on a pair of doubles.
Seth Lugo took the loss for Kansas City, allowing 5 runs on 5 hits with 5 walks over 5.0 innings. The Royals' offense had an early answer when Luke Maile singled home John Rave in the second to tie it at 1-1, but Colorado retook the lead for good in the fourth when Ezequiel Tovar's sacrifice fly brought in Edouard Julien. Kansas City's bullpen worked 3.0 innings and allowed 3 runs the rest of the way as the deficit grew out of reach.
Colorado has won three straight and improved to 45-67. Kansas City has dropped four in a row, falling to 46-67.