August 1st 2024.
On Wednesday night at Anaheim Stadium, the Rockies pulled off one of their most satisfying victories of the season. It was all thanks to their big three players, who carried the team to a 2-1 win over the Angels in a nail-biting, white-knuckle game. Pitcher Kyle Freeland was in top form, Ezequiel Tovar continued his impressive streak, and Benton Doyle added some much-needed muscle to secure the win. This victory also marked an end to the Rockies' five-game losing streak.
But what made this win even more special was the lack of late-game drama involving the Rockies' bullpen. Right-hander Tyler Kinley took care of business in the eighth inning with two big strikeouts, and right-hander Victor Vodnik closed out the game with a perfect ninth for his fourth save of the season. It was a refreshing change of pace for the team, who have faced their fair share of bullpen struggles this season.
Doyle, who has been on fire throughout the month of July, solidified his MVP status with a game-winning blast in the eighth inning. His 431-foot home run off reliever Hans Crouse proved to be the deciding factor in the game and may have even earned him the National League player-of-the-month award for July. In just 25 games, Doyle has hit .333 with 11 home runs, seven doubles, and 27 RBIs, making him one of the hottest players in the league.
Freeland, who had a standout season in 2018, was in top form once again. He pitched a brilliant game, allowing only one run over seven innings while striking out six and walking none. Manager Bud Black praised Freeland's confidence and his ability to pitch inside, which was evident in his performance against the Angels. His only mistake was a curveball in the fifth inning that resulted in a home run, but he quickly bounced back and shut down the Angels' offense.
After a rough outing last Friday, Freeland bounced back and delivered his sixth consecutive quality start. He attributes his success to a simple correction that he made during a bullpen session. Freeland also added an effective changeup to his arsenal, which helped him keep the Angels off balance throughout the game.
The Rockies wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, thanks to Tovar's hot bat. In the first inning, Tovar hit a single to left-center, advanced to second on Ryan McMahon's walk, and then scored on Kris Bryant's bloop single to left. Tovar's hitting streak now stands at a career-high 17 games, during which he has maintained an impressive .423 batting average. He currently holds the longest active hitting streak in the majors and is the first Rockies player since Brendan Rodgers in 2022 to have a streak of 17 consecutive games or more.
And as if the victory wasn't sweet enough, the Rockies also made some moves at the trade deadline to bolster their bullpen. GM Bill Schmidt made some tinkers, but no major moves were made. The team also traded Jalen Beeks to the Pirates for Double-A lefty Luis Peralta. Unfortunately, Brenton Doyle had a bit of bad luck and injured his index finger in a "freak accident." But overall, this win and the team's recent moves have given the Rockies some much-needed momentum as they continue to push for a successful season.
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