Freeland has another quality start go for naught as Rockies fall to 1-4

Rockies Report, Game 5:

ROCKIES BOTTOM LINE: Once again, Colorado’s starting pitching came up big . Once again, its offense came up small as Colorado fell to 1-4 in a 5-1 loss.

The Rockies have a major-league low 10 runs through five games, which is why their starting rotation’s collective ERA of 1.61 hasn’t resulted in a better record.

STARTER’S REPORT: Two games, two quality starts for Kyle Freeland. Although he wasn’t in nearly unhittable form as he was last Friday in Tampa, he held the Phillies to nine hits without a walk over 6 2/3 innings.

Philadelphia did most of its damage on Freeland in the fourth. Alec Bohm’s leadoff single was followed by Kyle Schwarber continuing his sizzling start to the season with an RBI double as he poked a sinker to the left-field corner, scoring Bohm.

A-B-C baseball moved Schwarber around for the Phillies’ second run via a pair of groundouts. Given the Rockies’ offensive struggles, that was all they needed despite Freeland delivering a second quality start, going 90 pitches and finishing with three earned runs allowed.

IT WAS DECIDED FOR THE ROCKIES WHEN: Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Seth Halvorsen relieved Angel Chivilli — who replaced Freeland in the seventh — and surrendered a one-out double to center field that scored J.T. Realmuto from second and Nick Castellanos from third, pushing the Phillies’ cushion to the final margin.

Chivilli was charged with the runs, increasing the Rox’ already-bulbous bullpen ERA to a mind-numbing 11.08.


ROCKIES NUMBER TO NOTE: 5 — Games in which Hunter Goodman has had at least one hit, as he continued his torrid start to the season by accounting for Colorado’s only run with a 1-out solo shot off Zach Wheeler in the seventh inning.

Goodman has accounted for both runs so far against the Phillies — both on solo dingers. He finished the night 2-for-3 with a double and has a .368 average. The cleanup spot appears to be his, as he’s hit there for three-straight games.

Kris Bryant hit in the No. 5 spot for the second-consecutive game and got his first hit of the season, but also hit into a 5-4-3 double play.

ROCKIES UNIFORM: Black hat with purple bill, purple jersey, gray pants. The Rockies are 1-3 in this ensemble.

WHAT’S NEXT: Antonio Senzatela makes his second start in the getaway-day series finale at Citizens Bank Park.