Troy Johnston’s pinch-hit RBI double in the 11th inning led the visiting Colorado Rockies to a series-opening 9-7 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night.
Johnston brought home automatic runner Willi Castro with his go-ahead knock off Brad Keller (1-1) and later scored on a Jake McCarthy RBI single. In the bottom of the inning, Juan Mejia got Bryce Harper to ground out with two on to end the game, securing his second save.
Victor Vodnik (1-2) worked two shutout innings in the ninth and 10th for the Rockies, who won despite blowing an early 6-0 lead.
Trailing 7-2 in the eighth, the Phillies tagged the Colorado bullpen for five runs to tie the game. After Brandon Marsh’s RBI single and Bryson Stott’s two-run double, Justin Crawford made his first career home run count, knotting the score with a two-run shot to right-center off Jimmy Herget.
A five-run fourth had put the Rockies in control. The damage was all done with no outs, as Phillies starter Jesus Luzardo was pulled after letting the first seven hitters of the inning reach base.
TJ Rumfield started it off with a single, scoring one at-bat later when Hunter Goodman launched his 10th homer. Brenton Doyle and Willi Castro scored on Kyle Karros’ two-run double and Ezequiel Tovar added an RBI single to cap the explosive inning.
An RBI groundout by Rumfield opened the scoring in the first. It was an inauspicious start for Luzardo, who walked Jordan Beck to open the game and later let him advance to third on a wild pitch.
Luzardo — who had allowed three total runs in his last three starts — allowed six runs on six hits over three innings, striking out six and walking three.
Philadelphia’s hitters struggled to unlock Chase Dollander, who didn’t allow a hit through the first three innings.
They eventually broke through when Schwarber led off the sixth with his 200th homer with the Phillies. J.T. Realmuto’s RBI double with two outs in the inning chased Dollander, who allowed two runs on three hits in 5 2/3 innings, striking out and walking five apiece.
Tyler Freeman’s solo shot in the seventh off Tim Mayza was the only blemish for the Phillies’ bullpen until the final frame, as they otherwise worked seven consecutive scoreless innings after Luzardo’s early exit.
