PHILADELPHIA — On Wednesday, manager Jim Tracy characterized this afternoon’s game between the Rockies and the Phillies as a “heavyweight fight.”
There was reason for Tracy’s hype. His Rockies had Aaron Cook, winner of seven straight decisions, on the hill. Philadelphia countered with left-hander Cliff Lee, the 2008 American League Cy Young winner making his home debut for the Phillies.
With Lee in prime form, and the Phillies landing all the big punches, the Rockies were KO’d, 3-1.
Cook didn’t pitch poorly, just not as well as Lee. Cook left the game after five innings with a sprained right big toe. After the game, Cook said the toe has been bothering him for a while, but pain flared up when he was covering third base on Jimmy Rollins’ triple in the fifth inning. Cook will see the Rockies’ team doctor on Friday but Cook said he was confident he would be ready for his next start.
Lee, acquired by the Phillies two days before the trade deadline, allowed one run in seven innings, striking out nine. He whiffed Rockies catcher Chris Iannetta three times. All told, the Rockies struck out 12 times.
Lee actually looked vulnerable in the first inning. Dexter Fowler cracked a leadoff double down the third-base line, moved to third on Seth Smith’s infield hit and scored on Todd Helton’s sacrifice fly to center. But Lee was in complete command thereafter, allowing only one baserunner past first base in his next six innings.
Catcher Paul Bako, of all people, popped Cook for a solo home run to lead off the fifth. There was nothing majestic about Bako’s homer, but it was enough to give the Phillies a 2-1 lead. It was Bako’s first homer of the season.
Rollins followed with his triple to center, scoring on Shane Victorino’s infield grounder to second baseman Clint Barmes. Barmes had Rollins in his sites, but Barmes’ throw home to Chris Iannetta was a little low and off-target.
Rollins, who extended his hitting streak to 12 games, fell a home run short of the cycle.
The Rockies finished their road trip 5-5 and come home to face the Cubs for a crucial four-game series beginning Friday at Coors Field.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
