Once upon a time, the Blake Street Bombers roamed Coors Field. Not anymore.
The current crop of Rockies often has a hard time hitting its way out of a paper bag. That’s why Dillon Cheer, a recent Arvada West High School graduate and passionate Rockies fan, showed up at Coors Field wearing a grocery bag over his head as a personal protest.
It didn’t help, at least not much.
The Phillies beat the Rockies, 7-4. With an 8-40 record — the worst 48-game start in history — the Rockies continue to set a torrid pace toward the worst record in Major League Baseball’s Modern Era (since 1901).
Philly had 17 hits, Colorado eight. The Rockies have allowed at least 17 hits in consecutive games for the first time since Sept. 13-14, 2016.
Philly struck out five times, Colorado 11. It marked the 21st time this season the Rockies have had double-digit strikeouts. Only the Angels (27) and Red Sox (25) have more.
Left fielder Jordan Beck, one of Colorado’s few productive hitters, struck out three times and saw his career-best 17-game on-base streak end. First baseman Michael Toglia also whiffed three times. His 71 Ks (at a 38% clip) are the most in the majors.
Colorado did get some offense from right fielder Tyler Freeman, who hit 3 for 4 and was central to two mini-rallies. He singled home Brenton Doyle in the fourth and scored in the seventh when he doubled and was then driven in by Adael Amador’s single.
“Great night, and it was good to get him going,” Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer said of Freeman. “I think he’s going to be a big part of this team moving forward. It was good to see him get three hits tonight. He just battled. That’s what I like about him … he’s going to put the ball in a play a lot.”
Colorado put together a too-little, too-late rally in the ninth, getting RBI singles from Mickey Moniak and Ryan McMahon.
Rockies starter Antonio Senzatela continued to struggle. He entered the game with a 1-7 record, 6.39 ERA, and .381 batting average against. He pitched six innings, gave up four runs on 10 hits, and departed the mound with a 6.34 ERA and .380 average against.
However, Schaeffer said Senzatela took a step forward.
“I thought he battled tonight, all the way through his outing,” Schaeffer said, noting that the Phillies didn’t hit the ball hard in their three-run first inning. “I thought he gave us a great outing and gave us a chance to win.”
The right-hander has allowed 84 hits on the season, the most in the majors and the most in franchise history through a starter’s first 10 games. It’s the most hits allowed through any major league starter’s first 10 games of a season since the Angels’ Joe Blanton gave up 93 in 2013.
The Phillies’ three runs in the first came on four hits, the key hit being a two-run looping double by Bryce Harper. In 38 career games at Coors, Harper is slashing .351/.426/.622 with eight home runs, 16 doubles, and 30 RBIs.
Philly put the game away with a three-run seventh that included a 430-foot solo homer to center field by slugger Kyle Schwarber off lefty reliever Ryan Rolison. Schwarber has launched 17 homers this season, including a 466-foot blast to right field in the Phillies’ 9-3 win over Colorado on Monday night. Alex Bohm and Brandon Marsh added RBI singles in the Phillies’ seventh.
Phillies left-hander Jesus Luzardo toyed with the Rockies for six innings, allowing one run on two hits with 10 strikeouts. He did walk three, but he was never in trouble as his ERA dipped to 1.95. He’s the eighth Phillies pitcher to have a sub-2.00 ERA through his first 10 starts with the club since 1912. He’s only the second Philadelphia lefty to accomplish that, joining Woodie Fryman, who had a 1.96 ERA through 10 games in 1968.
