NEW YORK — Ian Desmond was mobbed like a rock star in the Rockies’ dugout Sunday afternoon. And why not? He finally got rolling.
The veteran first baseman, stuck in a batting funk all spring, mashed two homers, including the game-winner in the eighth inning, to lift Colorado to a 3-2 win over the Mets at Citi Field. The victory completed the Rockies’ three-game sweep, extended their season-high winning streak to five games and completed an impressive 6-3 road trip. It was Colorado’s first sweep at Citi Field since Aug. 20-23, 2012.
The Mets lost their sixth consecutive game as usual Rockies setup man struck out three in the ninth to notch his first save of the season.
Desmond’s second homer was the pièce de résistance to another impressive performance by a Rockies starter. Left-hander Kyle Freeland pitched seven innings, allowing two runs on four hits while whiffing eight and walking only one. Over his past 21 innings (three quality starts), Freeland has allowed just five runs for a 2.14 ERA.
“Freeland pitched so well, and to be able to back him up was important,” Desmond said. “He deserved to win that game, no doubt.”
Freeland continued Colorado’s recent trend of terrific starting pitching. Over their last 11 games, Rockies starters have posted a 1.70 ERA with 10 quality starts.
But the game’s signature moment belonged to Desmond. With two outs in the eighth, he powered right-handed reliever Hansel Robels’ 96 mph first-pitch fastball over the wall in right-center. It was Desmond’s fifth homer of the season and the fourth multihomer game of his career.
Desmond entered the game batting .177, but one of Desmond’s very best swings of the season produced a solo homer in the second. He turned on starter Noah Syndergaar’s 97.3 mph fastball and drove it into the left-field seats, slicing New York’s lead to 2-1.
“A few years ago, I made the commitment that I was going to be married to my swing,” Desmond said. “Over the offseason and in spring training, I cheated on my swing. When you stray, you pay. I was in counseling for a month of changes, and hopefully we are getting back on good terms.”
Colorado knotted the game 2-2 in the the third on singles by and and back-to-back walks by and . The free pass by Parra scored Blackmon and was just the sixth bases-loaded walk of Syndergaard’s career.
Colorado appeared to be on the brink of a breakout inning, but Syndergaard struck out and Desmond grounded into a double play to end the inning.
New York jumped on Freeland quickly, scoring two runs in the first inning on three consecutive singles by Juan Lagares, Yoenis Cespedes and Asdrubal Cabrera on Freeland’s first seven pitches. Add in a sacrifice fly by Todd Frazier and New York had a 2-0 lead.
From that point on, however, Freeland silenced the Mets, allowing one hit and one walk over the next six innings. Parra swooped in with some great defense in the sixth, making a leaping catch against the left-field wall on Cabrera’s drive leading off the inning.
Looking ahead
Monday: Off day
ճܱ岹:Angels LHP Andrew Heaney (1-1, 5.31 ERA) at Rockies RHP Jon Gray (3-4, 4.99), 6:40 p.m., ATTRM
Wednesday: Angels RHP Jaime Barria (2-1, 3.46) at Rockies LHP Tyler Anderson (2-0, 3.78), 1:10 p.m., ATTRM
Thursday: Brewers RHP Jhoulys Chacin (2-1, 4.54) at Rockies German Marquez (2-3, 4.76), 6:40 p.m., ATTRM
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