Colorado Rockies Win Series In Philly Behind Eddie Butler, More HRs

May 30, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Eddie Butler (31) pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

After Chad Bettis’ outstanding performance Friday night for the Colorado Rockies, it was Eddie Butler’s turn to take the mound Saturday in Philadelphia. 

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Eddie Butler tossed six great innings, and the Colorado Rockies relied on home runs by Nolan Arenado, Michael McKenry, and Ben Paulsen to push a lead that the bullpen would hold, defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 5-2 and winning the weekend series at Citizen’s Bank Park on Saturday afternoon.

The Phillies jumped on the board first, when Ryan Howard doubled home Chase Utley in the bottom of the first inning against Rockies’ starter Eddie Butler.

The lead didn’t last long, though. In the top of the second inning, Nolan Arenado and Michael McKenry each hit solo home runs of Phillies’ starter Aaron Harang, to give the Rox a 2-1 cushion and continue their onslaught.

Including Friday night, all six runs the Rockies had scored in the series up to that point came on home runs.

That trend continued in the seventh inning, when Paulsen homered off reliever Luis Garcia to push the lead to 3-1.

Later in the inning, with runners on base, manager Walt Weiss decided to pull Butler – who had thrown six innings and allowed just one run – in favor of pinch-hitter Rafael Ynoa.

Ynoa made Weiss look good, singling to drive in a run and making the game 4-1. In the eighth inning, an Arenado single bumped the lead to 5-1.

In the bottom of the eighth, Cesar Hernandez homered off Rafael Betancourt to make the game 5-2. Betancourt would then be removed from the game, with what the Rockies later termed “flu-like symptoms.”

The 5-2 lead was good enough to hold, as John Axford held off the Phillies again for his second save in as many days, and the Rockies won the series, the road trip, and their sixth game in their last seven chances.

Butler was solid on the afternoon, allowing just a run across six innings, scattering four hits and a walk while striking out three hitters. He only threw 78 pitches (53 for strikes) before being pulled in the top of the seventh for Ynoa.

Butler (3-5) took the win, while Aaron Harang (4-5) took the loss, despite allowing just two runs in six innings, himself.

The Rockies and Phillies continue their series tomorrow from Citizen’s Bank Park, before the Rox come home to face the Los Angeles Dodgers in Denver next week.