Salisbury's Instant Replay: Phillies 8, Rockies 5
BOX SCOREDENVER – The Phillies scored four runs in the first inning and survived some poor relief pitching on their way to an 8-5 win over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday night.
The win snapped a five-game losing streak and was just the Phils’ second in the last 13 games.
They have won just 10 times since June 2.
The Phils go for a series win on Sunday. They have not won a series since taking two of three from the Rockies on June 19-21.
Starting pitching reportVance Worley was a standout on the mound and with the bat. He pitched 6 2/3 innings of two-run ball for his fifth win. He also had two hits and two RBIs.
Worley’s biggest out of the night came when he struck out Michael Cuddyer on a full-count pitch with the bases loaded to end the fifth inning with the Phils up by two runs. Worley then doubled home two runs with two outs in the sixth to put the Phils up by four runs.
Colorado righthander Jeremy Guthrie allowed four runs, all in the first inning, in 4 2/3 innings of work. He gave up seven hits and two walks. He struck out three.
Bullpen reportWorley left leading 6-2, but Jake Diekman and Brian Sanches combined to give up three runs in the eighth as the Rockies made it a one-run game. After Sanches allowed a three-run homer, manager Charlie Manuel went to closer Jonathan Papelbon for the final two outs of the inning. Papelbon stayed on for the five-out save, his 19th, after the Phils rallied for two insurance runs in the ninth.
At the plateShane Victorino sparked a four-run first inning with a one-out double. It was his first extra-base hit since June 13, over a month. He also tripled in an important run in the ninth.
Chase Utley had three hits and two RBIs. He also drove in a cushion run in the ninth.
Carlos Ruiz headlined the four-run first with a three-run homer to dead center.
Worley had been 0 for 21 on the season before his second-inning single.
Juan Pierre reached base four times with three singles and a walk.
Jimmy Rollins had two doubles.
Rockies catcher Wilin Rosario made it a one-run game with a three-run homer off Sanchezs in the eighth.
In the fieldVictorino showed off his arm by doubling up Tyler Colvin at first on a base-running mistake in the fourth.
Leftfielder Pierre made the catch of the game when he ran down Carlos Gonzalez’ liner to deep left to end the seventh with Diekman on the mound. He also nicely cut off a ball toward the corner to save a run in the fifth.
Halladay to returnRoy Halladay has been cleared to return from the disabled list Tuesday
(see story).
Trade talkThe Phillies have lots of trade possibilities
(see story).
Up nextThe teams close out the series Sunday afternoon with lefties Cole Hamels (10-4, 3.20) and Drew Pomeranz (1-3, 3.06) doing the pitching.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com
