DENVER — The Colorado Rockies got offense early and often, exploding for 11 runs after an abysmal road trip at the plate and defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 11-2 on a warm Thursday night at Coors Field.
The Rockies got a run in the first on a Nolan Arenado double that scored DJ LeMahieu and a run in the second on Mark Reynold’s ninth home run of 2016.
After the Phillies pulled the game to within one, the Rockies struck a huge body blow with a three-run home run in the third off the bat of Trevor Story. It was a monster shot that nearly landed on the concourse behind the left field bleachers. It was Story’s 20th home run of the season and came while he is still hoping that the fans will vote him into the final spot available for the National League in the All-Star Game.
His case was helped even further when he smashed his 21st dinger on the year — this time to center field — to give the Rockies a 6-2 lead.
Chad Bettis did his part, as the Rockies pitching has so often lately, pitching 6.2 innings while allowing just two runs on seven hits. Both runs were scored off the bat of Ryan Howard and only one — a solo home run from Howard in the second — was hit particularly hard. Howard grounded a single off the end of his bat through the shift for the only other run the Phillies got against Bettis.
The Rockies, on the other hand, were not yet done exorcising the demons from a road trip that saw them completely lose their touch on offense and lashed out for another five run on the bottom of the seventh. The highlight of the inning was a Mark Reynolds double that cleared the previously loaded bases.
Adam Ottavino pitched his first full inning back since returning from Tommy John surgery (he pitched to one batter on the trip) and he induced a ground ball, allowed a ground ball single, struck out a man, hit a man, and then got one final groundout to cement one of the Rockies most comfortable wins of the season.
What’s Next
Game 2 against the Phillies features Jon Gray who has been stellar of late for the Rockies against Vince Velazquez who has also been good for the Phillies lately. So, naturally, you should expect to see a high scoring game.
