The Colorado Rockies were unable to generate a late-game rally Saturday afternoon versus the Philadelphia Phillies, losing 2-1 in the second game of a three-game series.
Despite a strong showing from Antonio Senzatela on the mound, the Rockies’ offense was unable to crawl back from an early 2-0 deficit, once again hindered by strikeouts.
Ahead are takeaways from the loss.
Senzatela battles on the mound
The Rockies sent once again Antonio Senzatlea to the mound Saturday afternoon after an up-and-down campaign thus far.
Things got off to a rocky start for Senzatlea who surrendered a towering solo home run to phenom Bryce Harper in the bottom of the first inning, establishing an early lead for the Phillies.
Philadelphia added to their lead in the bottom of the third inning after Jean Segura scored on a wild pitch from Senzatela.
Outside of a couple of hiccups, Senzatela was sharp on the mound and was able to limit damage in order to keep the Rockies within striking distance.
Senzatela departed with a line of five innings pitched, allowing two runs on five hits while walking four batters and striking out two.
Ryan McMahon wants in
Following a leadoff triple from catcher Tony Wolters, Manager Bud Black opted to pinch hit infielder Ryan McMahon in place of the pitcher.
McMahon proceeded to rip a double into the right-field gap, scoring Wolters to bring the Rockies within a run of the lead.
Ryan McMahon (4) off RHP Aaron Nola (10) – 107.1 mph, 19 degrees (368 ft Double)
79.5 mph Knuckle Curve#Rockies @ #Phillies (T7) pic.twitter.com/B2K6GQWD0x— MLBBarrelAlert (@MLBBarrelAlert) May 18, 2019
It was a clutch double from McMahon who has been relegated to the bench since the arrival of top-prospect Brendan Rodgers. If McMahon wants to keep himself within the Rockies’ good graces, he will need to establish consistent production at the plate.
Saturday was a good step in the right direction.
Strikeouts continue to ravage Colorado
Strikeouts have plagued Colorado throughout the season, and the trend continued Saturday against the Phillies.
After striking out just four times in Friday’s game, the Rockies reverted back to their old ways and were sent back to the dugout 13 times in Saturday’s loss.
Colorado entered with the fourth-most strikeouts in the National League (422).
Rodgers gets his first hit
The Rockies made headlines around the league before their series with the Phillies when reports indicated the club planned to promote their top prospect in Rodgers.
The 22-year-old infielder was the Rockies’ top draft choice in the 2015 draft and has been regarded as a top-10 prospect in the game for the past few seasons.
Rodgers got the call following an offensive hot streak in Triple-A Albuquerque with the Isotopes, hitting .356 with 21 RBI’s and nine home runs in 35 games played.
Rodgers recorded his first big league RBI in Friday’s ballgame, smacking a fielders-choice to the right side of the infield to score Raimel Tapia for the first run of the day for either team.
Rodgers was once again in the Rockies’ lineup Saturday afternoon and recorded his first big league hit in the second inning of the game, an infield single.
Officially official!
Congrats on your first Major League hit, B-Rod! pic.twitter.com/Ax7oZLgjNO
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) May 18, 2019
Bryce Harper takes Senzatela deep
Harper, who signed a whopping 13-year, $330-million contract with the Phillies ahead of this season, displayed why he was deserving of one of the most lucrative contracts in baseball history.
In the bottom of the first inning of Saturday’s game, Senzatlea left a 94-mile-per-hour fastball over the heart of the strike zone that Harper belted to left-center field for a towering 466-foot home run.
Bryce Harper crushes monster 466-foot home run vs. Rockies…
Just listen to that sound😍 https://t.co/7UwpWCgZBOpic.twitter.com/kCLRyrxl2E
— For The Win (@ForTheWin) May 18, 2019
He’s scuffled some to start the year, but it’s only a matter of time before Harper begins to garner a groove.