Chad Kuhl crouched in a tunnel at Coors Field, sharing the moment with his parents on a FaceTime call as his phone kept buzzing with other messages of congratulations.
The fact that the best start of his career came against the powerful Los Angeles Dodgers only made the night even more special.
Kuhl pitched a three-hitter for his first major league shutout and the Colorado Rockies beat Los Angeles 4-0 on Monday.
“We all want to win, but it’s just been one of those personal goals for me,” Kuhl said. “And not just a complete game, but just going long time in, time out.”
Jose Iglesias hit a two-run homer and the Rockies handed Tyler Anderson (8-1) his first loss in 12 starts and two relief appearances this season.
Kris Bryant went 1 for 4 in his return to the lineup after missing more than a month with a lower back strain.
Kuhl (5-5) was sharp after giving up 11 runs over 14 1/3 innings in his previous three starts. He struck out five and didn’t walk a batter in the longest outing of his career.
“It was amazing,” Iglesias said. “Him and (catcher Elias) Diaz were connected. He threw the ball really well against a good lineup.”
Kuhl allowed just two singles through eight innings – and one was erased on a double play. Gavin Lux led off the ninth with a double but was stranded at second.
“You don’t see that every game,” Colorado manager Bud Black said. “It doesn’t happen. So, impressive.”
The Rockies scored in the first on C.J. Cron‘s RBI single and added another run in the second on a single by Diaz.