Phillies bash three homers in 10-1 rout of Rockies in series opener
Seven of the Phillies’ 13 total hits clocked exit velocities harder than 98 miles per hour. Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Brandon Marsh each hit home runs.
DENVER — A trip 5,280 feet above sea level was just what the doctor ordered for the Phillies offense.
Trea Turner entered the series opener against the Colorado Rockies with a .192 batting average over the Phillies’ six-game homestand. But before the first inning was over on Friday, Turner collected two hits, and raised his average to .250.
He led off the game with a double off former Phillie Michael Lorenzen, setting the tone early for what would become a 10-1 rout of the Rockies. The Phillies sent 11 men to the plate in the first inning, and when Turner’s spot in the lineup came back around, he won a seven-pitch at-bat with an RBI single to right field.
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Turner singled again in the third inning, and was lifted for Edmundo Sosa in the seventh with the Phillies ahead by nine runs. He finished 3-for-4 at the plate.
It wasn’t just Turner who was swinging a hot bat. Every starter except for Justin Crawford recorded at least one hit, and they weren’t flukes: Seven of the Phillies’ 13 total hits clocked exit velocities harder than 98 miles per hour.
The wind was blowing out to right field, and the Phillies’ lefties capitalized. Brandon Marsh, Bryce Harper, and Kyle Schwarber each homered to the pull-side. Marsh sent a sinker from Lorenzen 454 feet for a three-run shot in the first, the longest homer of his career.
Meanwhile, Phillies starter Aaron Nola held the Rockies offense to one run over 6⅓ innings. He gave up five hits, including one double, and one walk while striking out nine. His curveball was particularly effective, inducing nine swings-and-misses from Rockies hitters. Nola also froze Colorado’s lineup with his fastball, getting five to strike out looking on his four-seam.
Colorado’s only run came in the fourth inning. Nola allowed a pair of singles to put runners on the corners, and Willi Castro attempted to check his swing on a curveball but made contact anyway, sending a soft dribbler on the infield grass.
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Bryson Stott’s only play was to first, which allowed Mickey Moniak to score. Nola rebounded by striking out Brenton Doyle to end the inning.
Kyle Backhus, Tim Mayza, and Zach Pop split the job in relief and didn’t allow a hit.