Rockies 10, Phillies 5
DENVER -- The Colorado Rockies gave Tyler Chatwood plenty of breathing room Saturday during his successful return to the rotation. They beat the Philadelphia Phillies 10-5, striking for six runs in the first with seven of their 18 hits and breaking a three-game losing streak.
Chatwood made his first start since he strained his right triceps June 3 and left after four innings. He held the Phillies to two runs in five innings and went 2-for-2 with one RBI, raising his average to .438 (7-for-16).
The Rockies strafed Jonathan Pettibone and knocked him out after three innings, the shortest of his 11 career starts. Tyler Colvin hit a two-run homer in the first inning, which included a run-scoring double from Carlos Gonzalez and Wilin Rosario's run-scoring triple. Rosario went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a triple, a walk and two RBI.
Nolan Arenado, who made a spectacular play at third base in the second, also drove in two runs while going 3-for-5.
Rosario's three hits all went to right-center, an encouraging sign that he may be emerging from a prolonged slump. Since May 18, Rosario had tallied just two extra-base hits -- a double and home run on June 6 here against San Diego.
Prior to his pinch-hit single Friday night, Rosario had gone 10-for-67 to drop his average to a season-low .239.
The Rockies piled on Pettibone, who is 0-3 in his past six starts, for six straight one-out hits in the first, a barrage that netted five runs. They topped off the inning with an unearned run when catcher Humberto Quintero threw a ball past third base. The play began when Chatwood singled off the glove of first baseman Ryan Howard. He threw home, and Quintero threw wildly, trying to get a retreating DJ LeMahieu.
Two batters into the game the Phillies tallied a run. Ben Revere singled, stole second, took third on catcher Rosario's throwing error and scored on Michael Young's infield hit.
Left fielder Gonzalez cut down Young at the plate when he tried to score from first on Howard's one-out double.
Arenado's jaw-dropping play prevented a possible big inning in the second. With one out and a runner on first, Arenado made a leaping catch to his right on Pettibone's high-hopper and threw from the ground to get him. Revere followed with a run-scoring single, but Chatwood retired Young on a groundout.
Arenado singled home a run with one out in the third to make it 7-2. And after sending 10 batters to the plate in the first, the Rockies batted around during a three-run fourth against left-hander Jeremy Horst. Rosario drove in the first run with a double, and Arenado plated one with a single before Chatwood's infield hit with the bases loaded.
The Phillies scored three in the eighth off Chris Volstad. Howard doubled home the first run, and John Mayberry Jr. hit a two-run homer.
NOTES: Rockies CF Dexter Fowler was not in the lineup for the second straight day. He was hit with a pitch on the knuckle of his right ring finger and was still having trouble swinging a bat. ... Rockies RHP Rafael Betancourt (right groin strain) threw 20 fastballs Friday and will throw all his pitches in a bullpen session Sunday. He is scheduled to face hitters on Tuesday in Toronto and likely do that one more time. Betancourt, the Rockies' closer, has been on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 1, and is hopeful of being activated in the final week of the month. ... Rockies RF Michael Cuddyer extended his season-best hitting streak to 13 games with a run-scoring single in the first. It's the longest hitting streak by a Rockies player this season. ... Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins was back in the lineup. He has been dealing with right hip soreness and drove in the winning run Friday night with a pinch-hit single in the seventh in Philadelphia's 8-7 victory. Rollins went 0-for-3 on Saturday and was taken out after four innings with the Phillies behind 10-2. ... Phillies C Carlos Ruiz (right hamstring strain) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment today with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He has been on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 20. ...
Phillies 3B Michael Young is two RBI shy of 1,000.
