They held a Colorado pitching showcase in Toronto on Thursday afternoon.
The duel featured Rockies veteran left-hander Kyle Freeland, a 2010 Thomas Jefferson High School graduate, vs. Blue Jays veteran right-hander Kevin Gausman, a 2011 Grandview High grad. Both pitchers dominated.
And don’t forget that reliever Tyler Rogers, a Colorado native who graduated from Chatfield High in 2009, pitched a scoreless seventh inning for Toronto.
But here’s the kicker you might not have seen coming: The Rockies beat the Blue Jays, 2-1, in 10 innings at the Rogers Centre to clinch the three-game series against the defending American League champions. The Rockies prevailed despite striking out 17 times.
“It was a great series for us, and we were in every single game,” Freeland told reporters in Toronto. “Our defense and pitching throughout this series have been fantastic. We were able to grind it all the way through 10 innings to get the W.”
Tyler Freeman, fresh off the injured list and stepping to the plate for the first time this season, scorched a pinch-hit single off Toronto lefty Brendon Little to drive in automatic runner Brenton Doyle from second with the go-ahead run in the 10th.
After losing three one-run games to open the season in Miami, the Rockies suddenly have a slice of momentum.
“We were in every single one of those games (in Miami),” Freeman told Rockies.TV after Colorado finished their opening road trip with a 2-4 record. “That’s who we are this year. We are going to be gritty, and we are going to go to the last out of every game.”
Gausman was nearly untouchable for six innings, allowing no runs and two hits while striking out 10 with no walks. He was perfect through four innings before shortstop Ezequiel Tovar hit a leadoff single in the fifth after an 11-pitch battle.
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman (34) throws during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies in Toronto, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
After two starts this season, Gausman has a 0.75 ERA and has whiffed 21. Gausman, 35, is the only pitcher since 1900 to strike out 10 or more and walk none in each of his first two starts of a season.
But Freeland nearly matched him: five innings, one run allowed on five hits with 6 Ks and one walk.
While the split-finger-throwing Gausman was barely pressed, Freeland was stressed to the max in Toronto’s one-run third inning. He gave up an RBI single to Davis Schneider and then plunked Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to load the bases. But Freeland punched out cleanup hitter Kazuma Okamoto and got Alejandro Kirk to line out to second to snuff the rally.
“Gausman was good, and Freeland matched him,” Colorado manager Warren Schaeffer told reporters. “Freeland was gutsy, getting through that bases-loaded jam. He kept it right where we needed him to. ‘Free’ gave us everything he had.”
Freeland, who’s beginning his 10th season with the Rockies, had all of his pitches working.
“My fastball didn’t feel great in the ‘pen, but I found it out on the game mound,” said Freeland, who threw 60 of his 88 pitches for strikes. “Every pitch in the arsenal was working, especially my sweeper and curveball. They were my bread and butter today, along with my fastball. I was able to get a lot of weak contact and a lot of swing and miss.”
Freeland tipped his cap to Freeland.
“‘Free’ is our captain, and we’re behind him every step of the way,” he said. “He was unbelievable on the mound. Once he gets going, you see all of us get going.”
The Rockies are off on Thursday before hosting the Phillies on Friday afternoon in the home opener at Coors Field.
“I can’t wait,” Schaeffer said. “We have been waiting months for this, to get back home to Denver and the blue sky at Coors Field.”
Colorado Rockies Tyler Freeman (2) reacts after hitting an RBI single against the Toronto Blue Jays during tenth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Pitching probables
Thursday: Off day
Friday: Phillies RHP Aaron Nola (0-0, 5.40 ERA) at Rockies RHP Michael Lorenzen (0-0, 6.22), 2:10 p.m.
Saturday: Phillies LHP Jesus Luzardo (0-1, 9.00) at Rockies LHP LHP Jose Quintana (0-0, 4.15), 6:10 p.m.
Sunday: Phillies RHP Taijuan Walker (0-1, 11.57) at Rockies RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (0-0, 1.93), 1:10 p.m.
TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM
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