The missing link in the Rockies’ early-season slide remains their offense.
It was absent again on Saturday night in a 2-1 loss to the Phillies at Coors Field. Philly stuck it to Colorado for the ninth straight game.
The Rockies (2-6) managed just six hits, struck out 13 times, and were 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position. They have scored three runs or fewer in seven of the first eight games. Colorado is slashing .217/.263/.319, and its five home runs are the third-fewest in the majors. The Rockies are batting .197 (13-for-66) with runners in scoring position.
Philly starter Jesus Luzardo confounded Colorado for 6 2/3 innings, striking out 11 and walking none. He gave up one run in the third on a leadoff single by Troy Johnston, who took second on Luzardo’s wild pitch and then scored on catcher Brett Sullivan’s single to center.
Who’s hot: Right-hander Chase Dollander, Colorado’s hopeful ace of the future, made a strong relief appearance, pitching 4 1/3 innings and striking out six. He was charged with one run on four hits and a walk. Dollander entered the game in the third inning and promptly struck out dangerous hitters Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber. He got Bryce Harper to fly out to deep center to end the inning.
Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Chase Dollander works against the Philadelphia Phillies in the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The Phillies nicked Dollander for a run in the fifth, utilizing a leadoff single by Brandon Marsh, who scored on Turner’s double to right.
The Rockies’ bullpen, as a whole, continued its solid start to the season. A quartet of relievers limited the Phillies to one run on six hits over 8 1/3 innings.
Who’s not: Almost the entire Rockies lineup, but most especially center fielder Brenton Doyle, who went 0 for 3 and struck out twice as his average dipped to .148. Jordan Beck, who started in left field, is also off to a slow start. He was 0 for 3 with one strikeout and is hitting .105.
Worth noting: Colorado relievers have already thrown 40 1/3 innings, the second-most in the majors, but they hold a spiffy 3.12 ERA.
During their nine-game winning streak against the Rockies, the Phillies hold a 53-17 scoring edge.
Quotable: “I think the big thing (tonight) with the strikeout is we missed too many pitches in the zone early in the count. You can’t miss pitches in the zone early and then chase late. It’s a bad combo.” — Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer
Pitching probables
Sunday: Phillies RHP Taijuan Walker (0-1, 11.57) at Rockies RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (0-0, 1.93 ERA), 1:10 p.m.
Monday: Astros RHP Hunter Brown (1-0, 0.84 ERA) at Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (0-0, 0.00), 6:40 p.m.
TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM
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