Rockies 5, Phillies 4: Tapia Crabwalks It Off

On the day that the 2021 All-Star Game logo was revealed, Germán Márquez battled through six innings of work, the Rockies got some timely long balls, and Raimel Tapia smacked a walkoff homer to lift the Rockies over the Philadelphia Phillies 5-4 on Friday.

Márquez bulldogs through six

Germán Márquez had some of his best stuff we’ve seen this season on Friday, working through six innings against a tough Phillies lineup. Suffering from some inconsistency issues in early in the season, Márquez looked more like the ace Rockies fans have become accustomed to. He finished his evening going six innings, allowing two runs (both earned) against three walks and eight strikeouts. After allowing two runs, the righty shut down the Phillies’ bats for the remainder of his outing. He began to fade towards the end of his start, issuing back-to-back walks to start the fifth and allowing two two-out hits in the sixth, but put up donuts in both innings.

Rox set the table, but can’t capitalize early

The Rockies began to score runs down the stretch, but they had their opportunities early on. They had the leadoff man on to start the first and second innings (by way of a Phillies error and a C.J. Cron walk, respectively) but failed to capitalize on either opportunity. The third inning began somewhat positively, as well: Márquez struck out, but Raimel Tapia blooped a ball to center field for a knock. With the 2-3-4 hitters up, the Rockies may have been able to set the tone early. Unfortunately, he was immediately erased on Ryan McMahon’s double play ball.

Better late than never

Trevor Story’s had some terrible luck with hard-hit balls this season, many narrowly missing home run distance or dying on the warning track. On Friday, though, he finally got his first big fly of the season. Story cranked a 1-1 changeup from Velasquez high into the Denver night to get the Rockies on the board and take his first trot around the bases. The home run ball would prove crucial to the Colorado offense - after Story’s blast, C.J. Cron followed with his second of the season to tie the game at 2-2. Following two more Phillies runs and an RBI base hit by Ryan McMahon, Garrett Hampson hit a 411-foot homer to tie the game at four apiece with two outs in the eighth.

Tapia lifts the Rockies to a win

Speaking of home runs, Raimel Tapia picked a great time to hit his third of the season. Down 0-2 against Phillies closer Hector Neris, Tapia was clearly swinging for the fences and taking some big hacks as he battled in the bottom of the ninth. It would be a belt-high splitter that sealed the win for the Rockies, as Tapia deposited the pitch into the right field stands to continue the Colorado win streak.

Up next

The Rockies will try to get their season-high win streak to four games as they continue their series against Philadelphia tomorrow. Antonio Senzatela gets the ball for the Rockies, happy to face any team not called the Los Angeles Dodgers. Philadelphia counters with ace Aaron Nola, on the heels of maybe the best start of his career. He threw a complete game shutout against the Cardinals, giving up just two hits and striking out ten.