Phillies Sweep Out Colorado, and Go to 5-1
The Phillies were looking to sweep out the Colorado Rockies in the first home series of 2025. Thanks to a quality start by Taijuan Walker, and some clutch hitting by the offense, Philadelphia picked up the sweep with a 3-1 win at Citizens Bank Park on Thursday afternoon.
Both sides could not score through the first half of the game. The Phillies had numerous chances through the first four innings, but left six runners on bases, including the bases loaded in the second.
The Phillies broke the scoreless duel in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Kyle Schwarber reached second, when ex-Phillie Mickey Moniak dropped a fly ball in left field. After Schwarber reached third on a ground out, it was Bryce Harper getting a rbi, as he grounded a double down the right field line, and giving Philadelphia the 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the 7th inning, Philadelphia got some insurance. Schwarber, who was up in the bottom half of the sixth, but Brandon Marsh made a baserunning mistake, and got caught stealing with a runner on third, absolutely mashed a fastball thrown by Luis Peralta, and 444 feet later, he had his 4th home run of the season. This made the score, 2-0.
They added another run without a hit, as J.T. Realmuto, who reached base all fourappearances, got on first with a walk, then stole second, reached third base on a passed ball, then scored on a wild pitch.
Orion Kerkering and Jordan Romano pitched shutout innings in the 7th and 8th innings. Jose Alvarado, on the other hand, had a long ninth inning, as he started by allowing the first three batters to get on, including Sean Bouchard, who got a rbi single to left, that cut the deficit to 3-1. But, then he struck out the next batter, and after allowing another single, he struck out the final two batters, in a 35-pitch inning, to get his 1st save of the season, and Philadelphia the sweep.
Walker, was looking to rebound after a nightmare 2024 season, in which his ERA was over 7, and he was impressive in his 2025 debut. Walker, who threw 74 pitches and 47 of those were strikes, pitched six shutout innings, and allowed only three hits while striking out fourfor his first win.
Anthony Senzatela pitched well for Colorado, as he allowed no earned runs, and struck out three, but took the loss.
Philadelphia will be right back at it, this weekend, as the defending world champions, the L.A. Dodgers, who are undefeated, arrive in town. Yoshinobu Yamamoto will face Jesus Luzardo, and first pitch is scheduled for 6:45 pm. On Saturday, which is a nationally televised game, it will be Roki Sasaki, who has been shaky in his first two starts, going up against Aaron Nola, at 4:05 pm., and on Sunday afternoon, it will be Tyler Glasnow facing Cristopher Sanchez at 1:35 pm.
-David Weightman/ Olde City Sports Network