Rockies lefty Kyle Freeland had been waiting to don the red, white and blue since he was a kid growing up in Denver.
“Just getting the chance to be considered for something like this, to represent your country, is such a cool feeling,” Freeland said last month.
Saturday night, he made the most of his opportunity, pitching three innings in Team USA’s 6-2 win over Great Britain in the first round of the World Baseball Classic at Chase Field in Phoenix. Freeland allowed one run on two hits with three strikeouts and no walks. Rockies closer Daniel Bard is also pitching for Team USA but he did not make an appearance on Saturday night.