It's not been the best of seasons for Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Kyle Freeland. Record-wise and ERA-wise, Freeland just hasn't been able to put things together. On Friday night, though, he discovered a deft touch against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Freeland went 7.1 innings and recorded his 1,000th career strikeout as the Rockies edged the Pirates 4-3 at Coors Field. 

Oh, TJ Rumfield had a stellar night at the plate, too. Rumfield smashed his 11th home run this season, staying hot and adding an additional bat for Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer.

Let's focus on Freeland a bit. He gave up four hits, two earned runs, didn't walk a batter, and struck out eight. Unfortunately, Freeland wasn't involved in the decision as reliever Jaden Hill blew a save opportunity. 

Freeland became the second Rockies' pitcher in the franchise's history to hit that 1,000-strikeout mark. The other one? Germán Márquez with 1,069 strikeouts. Friday night's game also was the fourth time in his MLB career that Freeland went 7.1 innings or more in a start. He last did this back on Sept. 5, 2025, where he went eight innings.

When he hit eight strikeouts and did not walk a batter against the Pirates, it marked a season high in strikeouts for Freeland. His start also was the second time in Freeland's career that he struck out eight batters while walking none.

What did Rumfield, who is making his mark at first base, do? We mentioned that he hit his 11th homer this season. It also was Rumfield's sixth home run at hitter-friendly Coors Field, too. Rumfield finished going 2-for-4 with his dinger and an RBI.

For Rumfield, it was his 19th multi-hit game of the 2026 MLB season. How hot has he been recently? Hotter than a summer day in August in Las Vegas. Rumfield, going back 10 days ago, has a hit in eight of nine games. Want more? He's put together a slash line in that timespan of .361/.410/.861 and Rumfield has four doubles, one triple, four home runs, and nine RBIs.

That's the type of production that puts a big smile on Schaeffer's face as he sees Rumfield just go out and mash on a regular basis.

Another hero in Friday night's win was pinch-hitter Braxton Fulford, who smacked a two-run, pinch-hit double in the bottom of the eighth. Fulford brought home the tying and winning runs against the Buckos.

After Freeland and Hill left the game, Antonio Senzatela worked a solid ninth inning. He gave up one hit, didn't allow a run, walked one, and struck out one. Senzatela earned his seventh win this season, which are the most in Rockies' history by a relief pitcher before the All-Star break.

While all of this was great news on Friday night, Saturday is a new day and a new game. The Rockies are going to be facing Pirates star pitcher Paul Skenes at Coors Field on Saturday night. Colorado is going to have to bring its "A" game to the ballpark.

Can they get ahead early against Skenes and force him out? If the Rockies can pull that trick off, then they might just get another win against Pittsburgh and win this weekend series.

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