Rockies avoid no-hitter, series win in 9-3 loss to Phillies

It was a sunny afternoon getaway day as the Rockies faced a pitcher who has been inconsistent at best. So, of course, Vince Velasquez took a no-hitter into the seventh inning. Trevor Story broke it up with an RBI double in the seventh as the Rockies made it interesting late but a five-run seventh made the difference for the Phillies who won 9-3. The series victory goes to the Phillies and the Rockies fall to 3-10 in their last 13 games.

Velasquez rebounds

In his last outing, Phillies starter Vince Velasquez didn’t make it through the fourth inning as he allowed 10 runs to the Brewers. Today was decidedly different, as the Rockies were once again in the later innings trying to break up a no-hitter. He ran a number of full counts, inflating his pitch count which made a solo no-hit bid unlikely. However, he still managed to go 6 ²⁄₃ innings allowing two walks and earning six strikeouts before giving up a Trevor Story RBI double. Story would later score to make it a 3-2 ballgame at the time.

Marquez rebounds, but not as fun

Germán Márquez was also coming back from a lousy outing; he only gave up five runs and actually completed the fourth inning, though. Today the homers hurt him again: he allowed a solo shot to Rhys Hoskins, the second batter of the game, then a leadoff shot to Nick Williams to start the second. He also allowed a single and an RBI double in the sixth but was otherwise good through six, with just five hits, one walk, and eight strikeouts. Three inherited runners scoring after he was pulled in the seventh marred Márquez’s final line, but it was an important bounce back for him nonetheless.

Reverse Super Bullpen in the seventh

Márquez loaded the bases in the seventh without recording an out, despite allowing a leadoff single and being at 101 pitches. After another single then a four-pitch walk to .195 hitter JP Crawford, he was pulled for Jake McGee, who allowed all three inherited runners to score. He was pulled for Jeff Hoffman, who then allowed an RBI single to Carlos Santana to make it a 7-2 ballgame. After a walk Hoffman was able to stop the bleeding with an inning ending double play, but the damage was done.

The bleeding was made worse when Ryan McMahon led off the eighth with his first career home run that would’ve tied the game. Sorry, Ryan.

Turn out the lights

The Rockies lost their fourth straight day game and fell to 7-15 in day games overall. That’s all I have to say about that.

Up next

The Rockies travel to Arlington to face the Texas Rangers for the weekend. Chad Bettis will take the mound opposite Yohander Mendez.