The Colorado Rockies fell to the Philadelphia Phillies in a heartbreaker Monday night, but they may have suffered an even bigger loss in the process.

With the game tied 1-1 in the top of the ninth, All-Star catcher Elías Díaz delivered a two-out double to left. Manager Bud Black decided he wanted a pinch-runner to take over for Díaz, who represented the go-ahead run, but the Rockies’ bench was thin as a result of multiple players feeling sick.

So Black called left-hander Kyle Freeland’s name, using the starting pitcher as a pinch-runner.

After advancing to third on a wild pitch, Freeland had a chance to put Colorado on top when closer Jeff Hoffman threw another one. Catcher JT Realmuto was quick to track it down, though, and he was able to flip the ball back to Hoffman just as Freeland was sliding in.

Freeland and Hoffman collided, and Freeland was called out. He immediately went to the ground in pain, grasping his right arm as he laid face-down.

As the pitcher went back to the dugout, assisted by a trainer, the umpires reviewed the play and confirmed that Hoffman did not block home plate. The game went to the bottom of the ninth still tied, and the Phillies ultimately won it in the 10th thanks to designated hitter Cristian Pache’s walk-off single.

Freeland last pitched Sunday, and therefore wasn’t scheduled to start again until the upcoming weekend series against the Seattle Mariners. While Black said Freeland was “fine” when speaking with the media postgame, his status is worth keeping an eye on given the scary moment on the field Monday.

Through four appearances this year, Freeland is 0-3 with a 13.21 ERA, 2.553 WHIP and -1.0 WAR. His last two starts have technically been cleaner, giving up six earned runs over 10.0 innings of work, but the veteran still hasn’t been lights-out three weeks into the season.

Freeland has been the Rockies’ Opening Day starter in three of the last six years. After earning NL Rookie of the Year votes in 2017 and NL Cy Young votes in 2018, Freeland has been a steady presence at the top of Colorado’s rotation, even if his numbers haven’t been particularly impressive.

The 30-year-old southpaw ranks No. 3 in Rockies history with a 16.9 career WAR and No. 4 with 183 starts.

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