Rockies rocked in rubber match

The Colorado Rockies ran into a buzzsaw pitching performance and continued to experience major bullpen issues—despite getting a key piece back—en route to a 9-3 loss in the rubber match against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Rhys Hoskins jumped on a Marquez fastball in the first to get what felt for a while like it would be the only runs the Phillies would need in the contest. Though, they added another early run on a Nick Williams solo home run before Marquez settled in for the next several innings.

The Rockies couldn’t get anything going against Vince Velasquez who had allowed just one walk of Gerardo Parra, faced the minimum and carried a no-hitter into the seventh.

But Carlos Gonzalez drew a two-out walk in the frame and Trevor Story, the Rockies hottest hitter, finally broke through and broke up the no-hitter and the shutout by ripping a double down the left-field line, scoring CarGo all the way from first.

That gave Story his 50th RBI on the season which leads the National League.

Gerardo Parra followed with am RBI single to plate Story, suddenly pulling the game to within a run. With a chance to tie it, the inning ending in controversial fashion as Ian Desmond was called out on strikes. Desmond and manager Bud Black argued vociferously and replay appeared to show that he had indeed tipped the baseball rather than just swung and missed, but the play is not reviewable so Colorado had to settle for two.

The tightness of the game was incredibly short-lived, though. Despite getting Adam Ottavino back before the game, Black was still showing hesitation to go to the bullpen, handing Marquez the ball for the seventh. Even after he gave up a pair of weak singles, Black stuck with him following a mound visit, but once Marquez walked the third batter of the frame to load the bases with nobody out, it was time to go to the bullpen.

Jake McGee got a pop out in his first showdown, meaning he was one ground ball double play away from working out of the situation with no harm done. But Hoskins (after another strange potentially foul-tipped play) lined a double over the head of Parra in left (who misjudged how hard the ball was hit) to plate another run and spark a rally that would see the Phillies score four runs in the inning. Odubel Herrera and Carlos Santana contributed with singles before Jeff Hoffman was finally able to put the inning away.

There was a nice sign late for the Rockies as rookie Ryan McMahon finally hit the first home run of his MLB career in the top of the eighth. It was a towering shot to center against a curveball out away from him.

For someone who has shown prodigious pop at times in the minors, and a tendency to get hot, this could be the start of something big for the young man.

Brooks Pounders was tagged for another pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth to give the Phillies a 9-3 lead and that would be the final.

What’s Next:

The Rockies head down to Texas, where everything is bigger, to face the Rangers for a three-game set. The first game features Chad Bettis vs. Yohander Mendez. First pitch at 6:05 Mountain Time.