Phillies 3, Rockies 1: Cliff Lee handcuffs Rockies' offense in home debut

We all knew this would be a tough game, but it looked like a win wasn't so farfetched when the Rockies' first hitter scored.  Cliff Lee (9-9, 2.95) surrendered a leadoff double to Dexter Fowler, who scored on a sacrifice fly.  Unfortunately, that's all the offense the Rockies could muster against Lee, who is now 5-0 with a 1.32 ERA in his past 5 starts, including 3 complete games.  Lee also struck out nine.

Aaron Cook (10-4, 3.73) battled, keeping the Rockies in the game despite only achieving an 8-7 GO/FO ratio, with no strikouts.  Most of the damage came in the bottom of the fifth.  Career backup Paul Bako hit a hanging inside "sinker" out to right-center field, his first of the year and 21st of his 12 year career.  Two batters later, Jimmy Rollins hit a triple just ten feet shy of Bako's dinger, leaving J-Roll a HR shy of the cycle.  Rollins then scored the final run of the day on a Victorino fielder's choice to Clint Barmes, which was NOT ruled an error, for those of you who watched it.  Cook left after the fifth inning with a toe injury, which could have messed with his mechanics in that inning.  He's day to day for now.

Much has been made of the two relievers Dan O'Dowd traded for, but the bullpen was strong with a homegrown lefty/righty combo.  Matt Daley completed his 11th straight scoreless appearance (with just 3 hits allowed in that span), striking out two in his inning.  He now has a cool 3.19 ERA and his holding RH hitters to an elite .123 batting average against.

Franklin Morales struck out one and walked one in two hitless, scoreless innings.  Since being put in relief, he is 2-0 with a 0.96 ERA, 0.32 WHIP and batting average against under .100.  His only blemish was that grand slam by Fernando Tatis last week.  It sure looks like the bullpen is no longer our chief concern.

The defendants now are the bats.  The offense actually outhit Philadelphia but has scored just one run in their past 21 innings for the second ofFENsive streak of the road trip.  Chris Iannetta struck out three times and Clint Barmes extended his hitless streak to 22 ABs.  The Rox scored an average of 3 runs in the series and 3.3 for the series, so perhaps we should be thankful of the 5-5 road trip record - Rockies pitchers surrendered 4.2 runs/game.

Losing two in a row is never fun, especially against a contender.  This team is unfinished and imperfect to be sure, but keep in mind - a 5-5 east coast road trip, especially after dropping the first three, has to be considered as some modicum of success.

With 54 games left in the season, Colorado is one game out of the wild card race.

Box Score

Phillies Wrap

Comment of the day:

Passable road trip.

Still….shut out three times and one-runned another time is abysmal. We need to get home ASAP.

by Hollidayrain on Aug 6, 2009 1:30 PM MDT

Join after the jump for the fangraph and the roll call.

WPA Heroes:
Franklin Morales (.041) - 2.0 IP, 0 R, 0 H, BB, K
Carlos Gonzalez (.040) - 0-for-0, PH BB

WPA Zeroes:
Garrett Atkins (-.183) - 0-for-4, K
Chris Iannetta (-.105) - 0-for-4, 3K

Row Call

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