Bryce Harper Helps Phillies Solve Coors Field With Win Over Rockies
DENVER (AP) – Bryce Harper hit a three-run homer, Andrew McCutchen also connected and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Colorado Rockies 8-5 on Saturday night. Phil Gosselin drove in three big runs to back scuffling Phillies ace Aaron Nola (2-0). Hector Neris got five outs for his third save.
Gosselin started at shortstop after Jean Segura (left hamstring strain) and Scott Kingery (right hamstring strain) were placed on the 10-day injured list earlier in the day. The backup came through for the banged-up Phillies, delivering a three-run double off Antonio Senzatela (1-1) in the fourth inning to give them a 4-3 lead.
Philadelphia has put four players on the injured list since arriving in Colorado.
Charlie Blackmon homered for the second straight game and finished with four hits. Raimel Tapia hit an inside-the-park home run for Colorado, which had its five-game winning streak snapped.
The Phillies overcame their injuries at least for a night. After Gosselin put them ahead, Harper padded the lead with a homer off Mike Dunn with two outs in the seventh. It was his fifth of the season.
McCutchen led off the ninth with his fourth after Colorado cut the margin to 7-5 in the eighth.
The Rockies built a 3-1 lead on Blackmon's leadoff homer in the first, Tapia's dash around the bases for his first home run of the season in the second and Trevor Story's RBI single in the third.
Tapia's inside-the-park homer was the 18th in club history and first since Blackmon did it July 16, 2017, at the New York Mets.
Nola struck out nine in 5 2/3 innings. He gave up three runs, nine hits and one walk, ending the night with a 6.84 ERA.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Phillies: RHP Victor Arano also was placed on the 10-day injured list with right elbow inflammation. ... RHP Drew Anderson, LHP Austin Davis and INF Mitch Walding were recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley before the game.
Rockies: INF Daniel Murphy (broken left index finger) was sent to Triple-A Albuquerque for a rehab assignment. He has missed 17 games. ... 3B Nolan Arenado and OF Ian Desmond were out of the starting lineup for rest, manager Bud Black said. Blackmon could get the day off Sunday. Desmond had a pinch-hit sacrifice fly in the eighth and stayed in the game in center field.
REMEMBERING COLUMBINE
The Rockies held a moment of silence for victims of the mass shooting at Columbine High School in Littleton on the 20th anniversary of a tragedy that took the lives of 12 students and one teacher.
UP NEXT
Phillies: RHP Jerad Eickhoff is scheduled to make his first start of the season Sunday.
Rockies: RHP Jon Gray (1-3, 3.42 ERA) allowed one run in seven innings Monday against San Diego.
(Copyright 2019 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
