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Pitching for the Rockies is enough of a hazard as is, but it’s now actually dangerous for your health.
The decision by the Rockies to use starting pitcher Kyle Freeland as a pinch-runner had unforeseen consequences during Monday night’s game. Freeland was injured while trying to score on a wild pitch in the ninth inning against the Phillies. He was seen grimacing and clutching his right arm, which is his pitching arm, in an awkward position.
Oh, and to add insult to injury, he was tagged out in the eventual 2-1 walk-off loss in 10 innings.
After the game, Rockies manager Bud Black confirmed that Freeland was “fine,” and a team official mentioned that the starting pitcher had not suffered a “severe” injury, as reported by MLB.com.
Most teams will not use a starting pitcher to pinch-run due to the obvious risk vs. reward factors, but the Rockies had a one-man bench Monday due to illness and injuries, per MLB.com.
So after Colorado catcher Elias Diaz doubled in the ninth inning in a 1-all game, Black opted to insert Freeland to run.
A wild pitch by Jeff Hoffman advanced Freeland to third, and Freeland later attempted to score when a spiked pitch bounced away from Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto.
Unfortunately for Freeland, the ball popped in the air after hitting the ground, allowing Realmuto to grab it and toss it to Hoffman while the Rockies pitcher rushed home.
Hoffman fell on Freeland as he slid, tagging him for the last out to end the inning.
Freeland laid face down for a moment before getting up and walking off under his own power, although it was clear he was in pain.
He was in the dugout later when the umpires upheld the call.
“I wish baseball was more of a contact sport,” Hoffman said, according to MLB.com. “That was a crazy play for two pitchers to be involved in — just a crazy play. He threw it in a perfect spot for me. I just slapped the tag on him as quick as I could. We both got there at the same time.”
The loss dropped the Rockies to 4-13, and they will wait to see if Freeland (0-3, 13.21 ERA) can make his next scheduled start this weekend against the Mariners.
