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Colorado Rockies beat Phillies as Colton Welker totals night of firsts

By Kevin Henry |
Sep 9, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Colorado Rockies third baseman Colton Welker (4) hits a RBI single against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fourth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 9, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Colorado Rockies third baseman Colton Welker (4) hits a RBI single against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fourth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

The outcome might not have been very familiar for the Colorado Rockies away from Coors Field, and that wasn’t the only thing that was different about Thursday night.

While Colorado snapped its overall four-game losing streak and improved to 19-50 outside of Denver with a 4-3 comeback win over the Phillies, there was also a glimpse of the future for the Rockies on display at Citizens Bank Park.

In the win, there were some firsts to celebrate for the Colorado Rockies and rookie infielder Colton Welker

Colton Welker made his first-ever start for the Rockies on Thursday night, inserted into the lineup at third base and batting sixth in the order. Welker also took advantage of the opportunity to record some other firsts, smacking a 2-1 pitch into center field for his first Major League hit, which gave him his first MLB RBI as Trevor Story scored on the play to temporarily tie the game at 1-1.

The hit came at a perfect time as Story had opened the fourth with his triple to right, but C.J. Cron popped up and Elias Diaz struck out, threatening to strand the All-Star shortstop at third. Welker, however, came through with his single to ensure Colorado didn’t waste the scoring opportunity.

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The debut and success at the plate marked the zenith of a comeback for Welker, who went through an 80-game suspension earlier in the season for violating MLB’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. However, the much-ballyhooed prospect worked his way back through the system, stepping through the Arizona Complex League, High-A Spokane, and Triple-A Albuquerque before finally joining the Rockies on Wednesday in Denver. The 23-year-old Welker would get his first MLB at-bat later that day against the San Francisco Giants.

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Welker would get his second hit against Philadelphia in the ninth inning, and it would arguably be bigger than his initial base knock.

With the Rockies down to their final out, Welker singled on an 0-1 pitch to extend the inning. From there, Colorado took over, with pinch hitter Ryan McMahon blasting a two-run homer to right to give the Rockies a 3-2 edge. Sam Hilliard would follow with a homer to extend the advantage to 4-2.

A 2-for-4 night at the plate as part of a rare Rockies road win? That’s quite a successful night for Colton Welker and his many firsts in the City of Brotherly Love.

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