Colorado Rockies Swept By Philadelphia: 4 Takes From Sunday

A rough stretch for the Colorado Rockies continued Sunday as they were beaten by the Philadelphia Phillies for the third time in three days. The 7-6 loss was Colorado’s seventh in their last eight games. Here are the four things that stood out the most Sunday.

1) Near comeback comes up short for the Colorado Rockies

The Rockies were trailing 7-3 heading into the top of the seventh inning, but they managed to get the tying run to third base by the ninth inning. Charlie Blackmon (more on him in a bit) blasted his second solo shot of the game to make it 7-4 in the seventh.

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Then in the ninth, the Rockies took advantage of some wildness from Phillies closer Jeanmar Gomez to score a pair of runs. Gerardo Parra had a chance to tie the game or perhaps even give Colorado a lead, but Gomez got him to loft a short fly ball to center field to end the game.

The Rockies have not been playing good baseball, and coming so close only to lose again is extremely frustrating. But it’s nice to see that Colorado is still competing up to the final out, even if things haven’t been going their way.

2) Struggling without Story

It didn’t take a baseball genius to predict the Rockies would struggle to replace Trevor Story when he was lost for the season to injury. The rookie shortstop was hugely valuable both at the plate and in the field, and no one could reasonably expect Colorado’s back-up options to replicate his contributions.

The Rockies are now 4-10 since Story’s last game on July 30th, and Daniel Descalso and Cristhian Adames have predictably struggled to fill his shoes. Adames, in particular, has looked overwhelmed. He’s hitting just .193, and his defensive work at shortstop has been a work in progress.

Sunday, for instance, the Rockies had an easy chance at a double play. When Adames caught the ball at second base, he had plenty of time to double up the Phillies hitter at first. Instead, he rushed a flat-footed throw which bounced past Descalso at first base. It wasn’t a huge, game-defining play, but it’s another small example of how the Rockies have missed the unusual calm that Story brings as a rookie.

3) Chatwood not good

Tyler Chatwood has mostly been untouchable on the road this season, but Sunday was not his day. He allowed six runs (four earned), doubling his season-high for most runs allowed in a road start.

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Chatwood had a hard time commanding the baseball all day, walking five hitters (one intentionally) over just four innings. The Rockies sloppy defense (four errors Sunday and seven in the series) definitely didn’t help Chatwood, but he also had a hand in that, as his throwing error eventually led to a run in the third inning.

As a guy who doesn’t usually pile up the strikeouts, Chatwood will always have a smaller margin for error on the mound. If he’s not in control of his pitches and the strike zone (like Sunday), then he’s generally going to struggle (like Sunday).

4) Charles in charge

The Rockies have had a rough week as a team, but Charlie Blackmon is making baseball look incredibly easy right now. Blackmon’s currently riding a nine-game hitting streak; over those nine games, he’s sporting a ludicrous .548 batting average with eight home runs.

Next: Colorado Rockies Lose Ugly, 7-6 to the Phillies on Sunday

Blackmon’s late-season tear is a mixed bag for Colorado. They obviously have to love the way he’s playing right now, but the 30-year-old has two more arbitration years before he hits free agency. Blackmon was never going to be the cheapest arbitration player to begin with, but as his numbers continue to rise, so will his future price tag.