Rockies 7, White Sox 2
Monday at Camelback Ranch
On the mound: Kyle Freeland got his first win of the spring in his third Cactus League start, allowing two runs on six hits in four innings, with five strikeouts and no walks. Chicago did its damage off the southpaw in the fourth, starting with a Paul DeJong homer. The quintet of Colorado relievers that followed — Matt Carasiti, Victor Vodnik, Jake Bird, Riley Pint and Anthony Molina — all threw a scoreless inning apiece. Vodnik, who has a 6.35 ERA in five appearances this spring, was particularly sharp by setting the White Sox down in order in the sixth.
At the plate: First baseman Michael Toglia jump-started Colorado’s offense with a two-run homer to right off Michael Kopech in the top of the first. It was Toglia’s third homer this spring. Right fielder Sean Bouchard then made it back-to-back jacks with his homer to left. Third baseman Ryan McMahon also had an RBI triple in the fourth off Jake Woodford to score left fielder Sam Hilliard, who led off the frame with a double. The Rockies finished 5 for 13 with runners in scoring position, including Toglia following McMahon’s triple by singling him home.
Prospect watch: Shortstop Julio Carreras got the start and was 1 for 4 with an RBI and two strikeouts from the nine hole. Carreras, who hit .235 with five homers in 88 games last year for Double-A Hartford, is hitting .185 this spring. He projects to start the season with Triple-A Albuquerque, where he finished last season. With questions about where he’d fit in defensively at the major league level with Ezequiel Tovar ahead of him, he needs to establish his bat more this year, or he could become expendable.
Up next: Rockies vs Royals, 2:10 p.m. Tuesday, Salt River Fields.
Rockies probable pitchers: RHP Cal Quantrill, RHP Justin Lawrence, RHP Tyler Kinley, RHP Jaden Hill, RHP John Curtiss,
RHP Geoff Hartlieb, RHP Matt Koch.
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