Rockies sunk by 10-run Yankees fifth in 13-1 loss

Rockies Report, Game 52:

ROCKIES BOTTOM LINE: There’s a saying that momentum is as good as the next day’s starting pitcher.

The New York Yankees sent Max Fried to the mound Saturday; his 1.29 ERA is best among 80 pitchers with enough innings to qualify for the ranking in Major League Baseball.

The Rockies countered with Kyle Freeland; his 5.86 ERA currently ranks last among those 80 pitchers, although the .385 average against him on balls in play and the 3.14 FIP he carried stood as evidence that he was better than the ERA indicated.

The result Saturday — a 13-1 Yankees shellacking of the Rox — justified the top-line numbers.

It all came apart in the fifth inning. With the game tied at 1-1, the Yankees sent 14 batters to the plate against Freeland and reliever Angel Chivilli. Ten came home. A Freeland throwing error exacerbated matters, as the Rockies went back to their problems in the field after an error-free Friday night.

Oswald Peraza puts the Yankees in the LEAD! 💥 pic.twitter.com/fvU6BVDo43

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) May 24, 2025

By the time the smoke cleared, the Rockies trailed 11-1, and all that was left for the 43,186 on hand was to chow down on a Rockie Dog, grab a Tornadough and enjoy the day.

Colorado is 9-43.

ROCKIES STARTER’S REPORT

Just four of the nine runs charged to Freeland were considered “earned,” but considering that the error that led to them being unearned was on Freeland himself, he was the primary culprit in his demise as he fell to 0-7.

Even before the fifth inning, Freeland found himself in trouble for much of the day. Leadoff batters reached base in each of the first three innings. Timely double plays allowed him to limit the damage in the first and second innings, and he pulled out a 1-2-3 inning in the fourth before the fifth-inning misadventures.

Nine hits and three walks over 4 2/3 innings tell the tale of one of Freeland’s worst days of the season.

BITS AND PIECES

IT WAS DECIDED FOR THE ROCKIES WHEN: Freeland sent a throw toward Toglia down the right-field line, scoring Oswald Peralza from second base and opening the floodgates for the 10-run fifth inning.

ROCKIES NUMBER TO NOTE: 15 — Losses by at least five runs so far this season for the Rockies, the most in MLB. They led MLB with 40 such defeats last year; they’re on pace for 47 this year.

NOTES: Michael Toglia returned to the lineup, batting in the cleanup spot. He went 1-for-4, delivering Colorado’s only run on a triple that plated Ezequiel Tovar to tie the score in the fourth inning, but struck out twice … Hunter Goodman went 0-for-4, continuing a rough homestand in which he’s gone 3-for-25.

Toglia Triples! pic.twitter.com/BTonDsqvua

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) May 24, 2025

WHAT’S NEXT: Antonio Senzatela starts as the Rockies look to go to 5-0 in homestand-ending games this season — and to snap a streak of 19 consecutive series losses. Right-hander Will Warren starts for the Yankees. First pitch is at 1:10 p.m. MDT.

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