Do you feel déjà vu?
As was often the case in the two series against the Miami Marlins and Toronto Blue Jays, the Colorado Rockies wasted wonderful pitching with atrocious hitting.
Strikeouts and men left on base loomed large, as the Rox had their chances only to come up just one run short as the Philadelphia Phillies take the series in Denver.
There’s even more déjà vu as the City of Brotherly Love continues to show no love to Colorado, with tonight’s win making the ninth straight over the Rockies
for Philadelphia.
Saturday strategy switch-up
The Rockies entered Saturday with a clear approach to the game’s pitching, hinging on a clean outing from Brennan Bernardino before Chase Dollander would get the bulk of the innings.
Unfortunately, you know what they say about the best laid plans.
Bernardino had been efficient in his four appearances this season, giving up zero runs and walks heading into today’s start. Sadly, he had a shaky start, walking Trea Turner first and then giving up a broken bat RBI double to Kyle Schwarber.
As expected, the Rockies were ready to turn to Chase Dollander early, getting him warmed up a few batters in. Not expected, however, was needing to use Jimmy Herget to get the final out of the inning after Bernardino walked Bryson Stott with Schwarber on third.
Given the looming matchups in the second inning, Warren Schaeffer would sit Dollander to try and get a few more outs from Herget.
Herget did indeed notch those, punching out Adolis Garcia to end the first and getting three straight outs in the second, limiting the damage to 1-0 going into the bottom of the inning.
Not ideal, but not catastrophic.
Dollander delivers
Dollander arrived as advertised, striking out Turner with a fireball. He sat Schwarber down on strikes right after that, ultimately tallying six impressive K’s on the night.
He gave up the one deciding run in his 4.1 innings pitched, but overall looked very effective and was able to work out of a few jams comfortably. He was the bright spot of the night, handing off a 2-1 game to Jaden Hill and giving the Rockies a chance.
Unfortunately, his performance did not receive any run support from the Rockies’ bats.
At least it was close?
Look, the bar is low right now.
Today wasn’t the 10-1 Home Opener drubbing. But it didn’t feel great either.
The Rockies are now 1-4 in one-run games. It felt like the game was right there, all the way down the stretch.
The Phillies would leave more men on than the Rockies, with nine LOB for Philadelphia and five LOB for Colorado. In good news, Colorado’s pitching was able to stave off a number of runs that would’ve been early nails in the coffin. In bad news, the Rockies probably only left five on because they couldn’t get them there in the first place.
Brett Sullivan looked solid today, as the only Rockies batter with more than one hit.
Sullivan’s RBI single in the third would provide a glimmer of hope. Sadly, the bottom of the order was doing way too much of the heavy lifting, and it would not be enough.
A familiar issue
The Rockies have a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad problem right now: strikeouts.
This marks the third straight game of double digit strikeouts. Not just “barely over nine” double digit either. 17 strikeouts against the Blue Jays on Wednesday. 15 more yesterday. 13 more tonight.
Several of those came on key moments, too.
Colorado had a chance in the seventh. With Ezequiel Tovar on second and Troy Johnston on first, Kyle Karros would go down swinging for the last out.
The game ended on a big ol’ dud as well. Willi Castro ended it all trying to check his swing but going around for the unlucky 13th game-ending strikeout.
Up Next
The Phillies and Rockies will close out the series with a Sunday afternoon showdown at 1:10 p.m. Taijuan Walker and Tomoyuki Sugano, both decision-less in their respective starts this season, will take the mound. The Rockies will hope to keep the brooms locked away before the Houston Astros come to town.
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