Offense falls flat, particularly when it matters most vs. Phils
PHILLIES 2, ROCKIES 1
» It was a couldawoulda-shoulda game for the Rockies.
It will officially go down in the box score as a 2-1 defeat to the Phillies on Saturday at Citizens Bank Park, marking the strikeoutprone Rockies’ third loss in a row.
“We had some chances but didn’t get the big hit,” Colorado manager Bud Black said. “We had opportunities but just couldn’t square a ball up. They kept the ball down in the zone all day long.”
Although Colorado received a solid start from right-hander Antonio Senzatela and excellent work from its bullpen, it wasn’t enough to overcome 13 strikeouts and a lack of clutch hitting. The Rockies batted 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position, fanning four times in those situations.
In the first four games of the current road trip, Colorado has struck out 57 times over 40 innings.
Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola pitched six-plus innings, allowing one run on eight hits and tying his career high with 12 strikeouts. Seven of his first eight outs, and nine of his first 12, came via punchouts.
Nola fanned David Dahl three times, while Charlie Blackmon, Daniel Murphy and Brendan Rodgers all struck out twice.
“I hate striking out, me personally, and I keep doing it,” said Dahl, who has eight strikeouts in 12 at-bats on the road trip. “I’ve got to figure out a way to put it in play.
“A couple big hits and we win some of these games. Us as a team, and especially me, have got to do better with runners in scoring position. It’s as simple as that.”
Colorado rallied for its lone run in the seventh, sparked by catcher Tony Wolters’ leadoff triple and a follow-up, pinch-hit double by Ryan Mcmahon. The Rockies squandered their other chances. Trevor Story bounced a ball to third and Mcmahon, running on contact, was thrown out at the plate. Then, with the bases loaded, Murphy grounding out to short, ending the inning.
Murphy, who went 0-for-4 on Saturday, is batting .182. The Rockies continue to say the broken left index finger that landed him on the injured list is healing, but he’s been striking out often and usually making weak contact when he doesn’t.
Senzatela turned in his second consecutive strong start, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits over five innings. He struck out only two and walked four but got big outs at key times.
“The changeup was working really well in jams,” he said. “I just battled today.”
Case in point: the Phillies’ fourth. Cesar Hernandez led off with a double and Senzatela walked Odubel Herrera, but Senzatela induced Maikel Franco to ground into a double play to third baseman Nolan Arenado, then got Nola to chop out to first.
Bryce Harper nearly dented the Liberty Bell with his first-inning home run. His solo blast off Senzatela traveled 466 feet and sailed over the batter’s eye in center field, making it the longest home run by a Phillies player here since the Statcast era began in 2015. Harper’s home run jumped off the bat at 114.1 mph. Senzatela said it was the longest home run he has ever given up.
Philly took a 2-0 lead in the third, taking advantage of sloppy Colorado defense. Jean Segura drew a one-out walk and then raced to third when left fielder Raimel Tapia booted Rhys Hoskins’ single. Segura raced home on Senzatela’s wild pitch.
Rodgers, starting at second base for the second consecutive game, got his first big-league hit in the second, chopping the ball to third, where Franco was unable to make the play.
Patrick Saunders: psaunders@denverpost.com or @psaundersdp