For the 22nd time this season, the Colorado Rockies (7-35) scored two runs or less. That is the highest number of games this season and highlighted a night where the pitching was immaculate and the offense was absent in a 4-1 loss to the Texas Rangers (22-21).

Quality start for Freeland

Needing a bounce-back start, Kyle Freeland (0-6, 6.15 ERA) didn’t come out of the gate strong. The first two batters singled against him before Josh Jung clobbered a three-run home run to right center field to put the Rangers up 3-1. After that, Freeland settled in and cruised through the Rangers’ lineup. Freeland went on to allow just four other base runners through six innings. In classic Freeland fashion, he threw 84 pitches, allowing three runs on six hits with one walk and five strikeouts while getting seven groundouts. Unfortunately, he once again got no run support.

The Rangers tacked on one more run in the eighth on another home run from Jung against Zach Agnos to make it a 4-1 loss.

Can you take me Leiter

The Rockies set the table early in the first inning against Jack Leiter. Jordan Beck singled with one out and stole second before Hunter Goodman drove him in with an RBI single to get them on the board first. Sadly, the lead wouldn’t last long, and the offense struggled the rest of the night.

The lineup showed plenty of patience against Leiter, drawing three walks, but couldn’t solve him otherwise as he threw 57 of his 89 pitches for strikes and notched five punch-outs.

Backwards K in the ninth

Ryan McMahon led off the ninth with a single, followed by a single from Goodman that put runners on the corners with no outs. It seemed primed for the Rockies to at least get one more run, even if they lost.

Unfortunately, after two pitching changes, Shawn Armstrong entered the game and struck out Michael Toglia, Sean Bouchard, and Owen Miller to end the game. What stings is that each strikeout was caught looking. It’s another example of how far this offense has to go. They finished with five hits on the night but went 2-for-7 with RISP.

Rolison Debut

One of the other bright spots of the night was the debut of Ryan Rolison. It’s been a long journey for Rolison, but the former first-round pick finally got on a big league mound with runners on the corners with two outs in the eighth. After walking the first batter he faced, he got the next hitter in a 1-2 count before a ball was ripped to third base, only to be caught by McMahon to end the inning.

Welcome to the big leagues, Ryan!

Up Next

The Rockies and Rangers will finish up the series tomorrow. Antonio Senzatela (1-6, 5.77 ERA) will face Rangers lefty Patrick Corbin (2-2, 3.13 ERA). First pitch is at 6:05 pm MT.

See you then!

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