Rockies, worst team in National League, lose to A’s, worst team in the AL

The Oakland Athletics took Game 1 of the anti-World Series Friday night at Coors Field.

The A’s, owners of the worst record in the American League, hung on to beat the Rockies, owners of the worst record in the NL. The final: Oakland 8, Colorado 5 in front of 37,262 fans on a perfect summer night.

Oakland (29-76) is on pace to finish the season 45-117. The Rockies (40-63) are on pace to go 63-99.

Credit the Rockies for at least getting up off the mat. They scored three runs in the eighth to cut the lead to 7-5. The big hits were a pinch-hit, RBI single by Michael Toglia and a two-run double by Jurickson Profar.

Oakland, however, bought some breathing room in the ninth on Ramon Laureano’s leadoff homer off Matt Koch.

The Rockies played an ugly game, committing three errors in the first four innings, two by second baseman Alan Trejo, who bobbled two grounders, and one by third baseman Ryan McMahon, who let loose with a high throw to first in Oakland’s three-run second. McMahon has committed four errors in his last three games.

Rockies left-hander Kyle Freeland, making his first start since dislocating his right shoulder on July 9, was not sharp, giving up nine hits in four innings. He departed with the Rockies trailing 5-0, though he was charged with only three earned runs. Freeland also made a wild throw toward home but it was not scored an error.

“We didn’t help (Freeland),” manager Bud Black said, referring to the Rockies’ sloppy defense. “But overall, I thought his stuff was fine.”

Colorado’s first run came on Randal Grichuk’s 445-foot home run off lefty starter JP Sears to lead off the fourth. Grichuk, the subject of trade talks as Tuesday’s deadline approaches, has hit six homers in his last 21 games. The outfielder is hitting .305 with a .846 OPS.

Oakland struck quickly vs. Freeland. Brent Rooker, Jordan Diaz and Laureano rapped out consecutive singles off Freeland for a run in the first, although their hits were of the seeing-eye variety. But Shea Langeliers scalded an RBI triple off the right-field wall in the second and crushed a two-out double to center in the third, scoring easily on Nick Allen’s triple to left-center.

Freeland struck out three and didn’t walk any batters but his ERA now sits at 4.79 and he has not posted a victory since May 14. However, Freeland continues getting limited run support when he’s on the mound.

“Overall, I felt all right, but there was some execution that wasn’t great,” Freeland said.  “I left some stuff in the heart of the zone that was taken advantage of, and some balls were hit hard. Physically, I felt fine and the shoulder felt fine. I just need to be crisper with my stuff.”

Sears, meanwhile, was sharp, limiting Colorado to one run over five innings, giving up just four hits, all of them singles, save for Grichuk’s homer.

The A’s tacked on two runs in the fifth off reliever Gavin Hollowell. Tony Kemp ripped a double to right and scored on Zack Gelof’s two-run homer to left-center.

Rockies right-hander Connor Seabold, who lost his starting job and was relegated to the bullpen, pitched three scoreless innings, allowing one hit and fanning four.

The two clubs play the second game of their three-game set Saturday night at Coors.