Rockies left-hander Kyle Freeland was a man on a double mission Sunday. Unfortunately for Freeland, both failed.
He began the day by making an excellent start in Kansas City, only to see the Rockies fall, 2-0, at Kauffman Stadium. When he returned to DIA on the team plane, he immediately headed to Ball Arena for Game 2 of the NBA Finals between the Nuggets and Heat.
“I made it for the second half,” Freeland said. “Tough game, tough loss.”
The Heat caught fire from 3-point range and beat Denver, 111-108, squaring the series at 1-1.
Freeland, a Denver native, graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School and huge fan of former Nuggets guard Carmelo Anthony, is keeping the faith as the Nuggets enter Game 3 on Wednesday night in Miami.
“Obviously, they have their work cut out for them, but I think the Nuggets are going to take care of business and get right what they need to get right,” Freeland said. “Then they can come back home and hopefully clinch the title.”
And, pray tell, Mr. Freeland, what should the Nuggets be doing to get right?
“I’m not going to go there,” Freeland said with a laugh. “Being a professional athlete from another sport, I’m not gonna try and tell them how to play. They’ll figure it out.
“The Heat have been to the Finals before and they’ve won it all. The Nuggets never have. I really think it will be about who wants it more.”
Wednesday’s Pitching Matchup
Giants RHP Logan Webb (4-6, 2.85 ERA) at Rockies RHP Connor Seabold (1-2, 5.40)
6:40 p.m. Wednesday, Coors Field
TV: ATTRM
Radio: 850 AM/94.1 FM
Seabold is taking baby steps as he looks to solidify his place in the rotation. He did not factor in Colorado’s walk-off loss at Arizona on Thursday, but he pitched well, allowing one run on three hits across a career-high 5 1/3 innings. He’ll be facing the Giants for the first time in his career. In his three starts at Coors Field, Seabold is 0-1 with a 6.43 ERA. Webb is coming off a loss to Baltimore on Friday when he allowed three runs on four hits and one walk over seven innings. He fanned six. Home runs hurt Webb early in the season — he gave up eight in his first 45 innings — but he’s kept the ball in the yard much better lately. Gunnar Henderson’s seventh-inning homer snapped Webb’s 33-inning stretch without allowing a homer. Webb has fared well against Colorado, going 6-2 with a 3.73 ERA in 11 games (10 starts), including a 3-1 record and 4.59 ERA at Coors in six starts.
Pitching probables
Thursday: Giants TBA at Rockies RHP Chase Anderson (0-0, 2.08), 1:10 p.m., ATTRM
Friday: Padres RHP Yu Darvish (4-4, 6.99) at Rockies LHP Austin Gomber (4-4, 6.99), 6:40 p.m, ATTRM
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