Phillies survive nightmarish eighth inning, slug early in win against Rockies

Final Score: Phillies 7, Rockies 6

Tuesday was a perfect night of baseball. Ranger Suárez threw his second career complete-game shutout, Bryce Harper broke out of his slump and the team played its most fundamentally sound game of the season.

If you were hoping for two straight days of fun, stress-free baseball, save that hope for later. The Phillies (11-8) had a 7-1 lead entering the eighth inning. Forty pitches and nine batters later, the lead fell to 7-6. Gregory Soto allowed three straight singles, then a run to score on a sacrifice fly, reloaded the bases on a walk and allowed another run to score on a walk. He was pulled in favor of Jeff Hoffman, who allowed a third run to score on a groundout and two more to cut the lead to two on a single.

Thankfully for the Phillies, José Alvarado shut the door to stave of an embarrassing bullpen collapse. The Phillies will enjoy a rare day off on Thursday and come back to open a weekend home series against the Chicago White Sox. Spencer Turnbull will oppose Garrett Crochet.

Highlights

• Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner homered on back-to-back pitches in the first inning. Schwarber’s drive to right was his 21st leadoff home run as a Phillie and 250th career home run.

Kyle Schwarber sends out career homer #250, and Trea Turner follows it up with a dinger of his own. pic.twitter.com/JoQfNuYV7X

— Phillies Nation (@PhilliesNation) April 17, 2024

• Johan Rojas crushed a ball off the wall in left center field in the sixth inning. Schwarber followed up with his second home run of the night. Rojas reached base safely three times in four plate appearances.

Good GOD, Kyle pic.twitter.com/fLJAqFgLQQ

— Phillies Nation (@PhilliesNation) April 17, 2024

• Cristopher Sánchez was filthy. He struck out ten batters over five innings. His changeup was moving. Rockies hitters swung and missed at nine of his 30 changeups. His season ERA is down to 2.53.

Notes

• Turner extended his extra-base hit streak to five games and his hitting streak to seven. J.T. Realmuto’s RBI groundout in the fifth was Turner’s 700th career run scored.
• The Phillies starting staff has allowed only one earned run across three games against Colorado.

Ticket IQ Next Game

• Friday, April 19 vs. Chicago White Sox at Citizens Bank Park
• 6:40 p.m. EST
• NBC Sports Philadelphia
• 94 WIP

MORE FROM PHILLIES NATION

1. Phillies 2024 Walk-Up Songs
2. Phillies’ Energy Guy Edmundo Sosa Stays Ready In Reduced Role
3. The Evolution Of Ranger Suárez Continues In Second Career Complete-Game Shutout
4. What’s Kept Phillies Pitching So Healthy? Zack Wheeler And Aaron Nola Weigh In…
5. Phillies Insist Bryce Harper Is Healthy Despite Slow Start
6. The Inside Story Of How The Phillies City Connect Uniforms Came To Be
7. Phillies Nuggets: Alec Bohm Says He’s Grown ‘A Lot’ As Player And Person
8. Amid Pitcher Injury Crisis, Rob Thomson Says Phillies Have To Be ‘Really’ Careful With Spencer Turnbull
9. Why Were The Red Jerseys Ones Eliminated By Phillies?
10. Phillies 2024 Giveaway Schedule