Colorado Rockies Win Behind Brilliant Chad Bettis, Two Tulo HRs

Aug 1, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Chad Bettis (35) throws a pitch against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The Colorado Rockies met the Philadelphia Phillies in game one of their three game series this weekend, and Chad Bettis was up to the task against Phils’ ace Cole Hamels. 

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Chad Bettis was masterful – and nearly perfect – and Troy Tulowitzki hit solo home runs in his first two at-bats on the way to four hits on the day, and the Colorado Rockies defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 on Friday night.

In just his third start in the big leagues after beginning the season at AAA Albuquerque, Chad Bettis had the best game of his career, throwing eight shut out innings and flirting with a perfect game, which he took into the seventh inning, and a no-hitter, which he took into the eighth.

Tulowitzki started things off for the Rockies in the first with a solo home run off Phillies’ starter Cole Hamels to make it a 1-0 game for the Rockies.

Tulowitzki would homer again in the third inning, making it 2-0 after three frames, on his way to a four-hit game on Friday night. It was Tulowitzki’s first four-hit game since June 5, 2013.

Hamels was solid for the Phillies, allowing nothing besides those two home runs, and in the ninth inning, Ben Paulsen’s two-run home run pushed across a 4-0 lead for the Rockies off Phils’ reliever Luis Garcia.

Hamels would end up going eight innings, allowing just a walk and five hits while striking out nine Rockies, but he was bested by Bettis, who was the real story of the game.

Bettis threw eight full innings, and after he took his perfect game into the seventh and no-hitter into the eighth, finished his game allowing just two hits and no walks, while striking out seven Phillies’ hitters.

The perfect game was broken up with no outs in the seventh on a tough chance at shortstop by Tulowitzki, who was charged with an error.

Then, with one out in the eighth, Cody Asche hit a line drive single through the hole at shortstop during a Rockies defensive shift to end the no-hit bid a full 22 outs into the game.

Bettis bore down with runners on the corners and a 2-0 lead, and struck out the side in the eighth inning to preserve the game ahead of Paulsen’s ninth inning home run.

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In the bottom of the ninth off Rockies closer John Axford, the Phillies pushed across a run on a Chase Utley double, but couldn’t muster anything more to finish the game.

The Rockies and Phillies will play again tomorrow afternoon, before finishing their series on Sunday with a day game.

After that, the Rockies head home to face the Los Angeles Dodgers for four games – including a rainout make-up doubleheader – over three days next week.