Rockies’ Kyle Freeland loses no-hitter in ninth inning vs. White Sox

Kyle Freeland was two outs away from making history but his no-hit bid fell short when Melky Cabrera lined his offering to left field.

History was almost made on Sunday afternoon in Colorado where Rockies starter Kyle Freeland took a no-hitter into the ninth inning. The rookie was north of 100 pitches when he took the mound looking to get three more outs but his bid to make history came up two outs shy when Melky Cabrera hit a single to left field.

It has to be so gut-wrenching to come that close to joining baseball immortality with a no-hitter, but despite the lone hit he allowed, this was the best outing of Freeland’s young career. He can certainly use this as a jumping off point for the second half of the season when the season resumes after this week’s All-Star Game festivities.

Freeland was two outs away from throwing the second no-hitter in franchise history and only the second no-hitter at the notoriously hitter-friendly Coors Field. The only other no-hitter in Rockies history came in 4/17/2010 when Ubaldo Jimenez no-hit the Atlanta Braves. The only other no-hitter at Coors Field came back on Sept. 17, 1996, when Los Angeles Dodgers ace Hideo Nomo did the deed.

The last time the White Sox were no-hit was when Twins’ Francisco Liriano accomplished the feat on May 3, 2011. Edison Volquez remains the only pitcher in baseball this season to throw a no-hitter after the Marlins starter held the Arizona Diamondbacks off the hit column on June 4.

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Freeland finished the game with 1 hit allowed in 8.1 innings, three walks and struck out nine White Sox batters. Not a bad day at the office for the promising young starter for the Rockies. This team has been one of the bigger surprises of the first half and it’ll be interesting if they can keep it up in the second half and stay in contention for a playoff spot.