Rockies Sweep Fading Phillies

The Colorado Rockies won for the 7th time in their last 8 games, completing a weekend sweep of the Phillies with a 4-1 win on a warm, sunny late spring Sunday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park. The loss extends the Phils’ losing streak out to 7 straight, and they have now lost 10 of their last 12 games.

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The Phils scored just 4 runs in the three games, and for the 2nd straight game it was a group effort by the Rockies pitcher. This time that group effort came due to an early exit by starter Jordan Lyles. Dealing with a sprained toe, Lyles was only able to last 1.1 innings.

In stepped Chris Rusin for Colorado, delivering 4.2 solid innings. He allowed 4 hits, striking out 2 and walking 1 batter as the first of four Rockies’ relievers to hold the Phillies scoreless the rest of the way.

Phillies starter Jerome Williams wasn’t injured, he just simply wasn’t very good – again. Williams allowed 4 earned runs on 8 hits across his 5 innings pitched. Jeanmar Gomez, Justin De Fratus, and Jonathan Papelbon all held Colorado scoreless thereafter, but the Phils’ offense never showed up.

The Rox started fast, scoring twice in the top of the 1st when their scorching hot 3rd baseman Nolan Arenado drove his 12th homer of the season out deep to center field. The Phillies got one back in their half of the 2nd when a Cameron Rupp RBI double scored Cody Asche, who had singled earlier in the inning.

That would be all the Phillies offense could muster on the afternoon in the final meeting between the two teams for 2015. They were held to 2 or fewer runs for the 22nd time on the season in their 52nd game, and for the 4th game in a row. The club is now a season-worst 14 games below the .500 mark.

The Phillies will have an off-day on Monday, with the club holding it’s annual Phillies Phestival down at Citizens Bank Park. It is billed as a fun-filled autograph and auction party, with funds raised going to the Philadelphia Chapter of the ALS Association, helping to fight the condition known as Lou Gehrig‘s Disease.

The team will be back in action in South Philly on Tuesday night for the first of three games with the Cincinnati Reds, followed by three with the World Series champion San Francisco Giants beginning next Friday evening. On Thursday vs Cincy, yours truly is scheduled to make his first appearance ‘live’ this season, so should have some photos of the event to share.