Kyle Freeland struck out eight in the first complete game of his career, Jake McCarthy hit a three-run home run and the Colorado Rockies beat the Kansas City Royals 8-1 in Denver on Sunday.
Freeland (3-10), who needed 115 pitches to go the distance, retired 18 straight batters before Salvador Perez’s one-out double in the ninth. Starling Marte followed with a single but Freeland got the next two batters to finish the game, which was played in temperatures more than 100 degrees.
It is the team’s first complete game since Chad Kuhl did it June 27, 2022, against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Cole Carrigg had three hits and two stolen bases and Brett Sullivan added two hits for Colorado, which swept a series for the first time since taking three at the New York Mets April 24-26.
Jac Caglianone doubled for one of the five hits for Kansas City, which has lost four in a row.
The Rockies scratched out a run in the first inning against starter Seth Lugo (4-7).
Mickey Moniak started it with a one-out walk and Carrigg followed with a double into the left field corner to make it 1-0. Lugo retired two batters around a walk to Willi Castro to limit the damage.
Kansas City answered in the second inning against Freeland.
John Rave singled with one out and moved to second on a groundout. Following a walk to Josh Rojas, Luke Maile singled up the middle to drive in Rave with the tying run.
Colorado went back in front in the fourth inning. Edouard Julien walked, Sullivan doubled to put runners on second and third and Ezequiel Tovar brought home Julien with a sacrifice fly.
The Rockies sent 10 batters to the plate in the sixth to break it open.
They loaded the bases with two singles and a walk, chasing Lugo. Sullivan greeted reliever Aaron Bummer with a two-run double. McCarthy homered to right one out later, and TJ Rumfield’s double brought home Carrigg to cap the six-run inning.
Lugo allowed five runs on five hits and five walks in five innings.
