DENVER (AP) — After snapping their winning streak Friday, the Phillies rebounded Saturday night to beat the Colorado Rockies 8-4, thanks in part to a three-run homer by Bryce Harper in Philadelphia’s six-run ninth inning.
Trailing 3-2 in the ninth, the Phillies broke through and ended the Rockies’ own five-game winning streak. After Brandon Marsh walked in the opening half against Jalen Beeks, Justin Lawrence (1-3) was relieved and was greeted by Edmundo Sosa’s RBI triple. Garrett Stubbs followed with an RBI single, putting the Phillies ahead 4-3.
“It was pretty cool to be able to take an opportunity like that and take advantage of it,” Stubbs said. “And then look at how everyone just piles it on.”
After Kody Clemens grounded into a double play, Kyle Schwarber doubled for his third single of the game and Bryson Stott walked. Harper, ejected in the first inning of Friday’s 11-inning loss to the Rockies for arguing a strike call, John Curtiss’ pitch drifted over the left field fence for his 13th home run of the season.
“He’s a superstar and that’s what they do,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said of Harper.
Nick Castellanos’ RBI single capped Philadelphia’s blowout. Philadelphia has now won seven of their last eight games.
David Zalubowski/AP
José Ruiz (1-0) picked up the win and worked a scoreless inning in relief. The Rockies got a solid outing from Dakota Hudson, who pitched six innings and allowed two runs on five hits, and Lawrence lamented that he couldn’t close it out for his team.
“Just frustration,” said Lawrence, who made a save for the third time in five chances. “You just want to finish it and I feel like it’s ruined a really, really good start for our guys a few times now.”
Charlie Blackmon hit a two-out RBI double in the ninth for the Rockies, marking the 600th extra-base hit of his career, the second most in Rockies franchise history. Brenton Doyle had a pair of hits and stole three bases in his career.
Rockies left fielder Jordan Beck after landing hard on his glove (left) while making a diving catch off Castellanos’ sinking liner for the final out in the top of the first inning. After the game, manager Bud Black said Beck suffered a broken hand. There was no immediate timetable for his return.
The Rockies built a 3-1 lead against Aaron Nola before the Phillies got within a run in the top of the fifth on Schwarber’s sacrifice fly, which scored Stubbs after reaching third base on a delayed steal.
Harper singled in the top of the first inning to drive in Philadelphia’s first run, but Colorado scored single runs in each of the first three innings on Brendan Rodgers’ RBI single, Kris Bryant’s run-scoring groundout and the Hunter Goodman’s fielder’s choice, which brought home Doyle. from third after he singled and stole second.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Phillies: SS Trea Turner, who is rehabbing a strained left hamstring, did conditioning work on the field Saturday and took swings in the batting cage. He has been on the injured list since May 4.
Rockies: LHP Kyle Freeland, sidelined since mid-April with a strained left elbow, was scheduled to conduct bullpen sessions on Sunday and Tuesday. If all goes well, Black says he can throw a simulated game against live hitters in seven to 10 days.
NEXT ONE
LHP Ranger Suarez (9-0, 1.36 ERA) will look to remain undefeated and push his win total to double figures when he takes the mound for Sunday’s series finale in Colorado, countering with RHP Cal Quantrill (3-3, 3.59).
