Phillies 4, Rockies 2
DENVER -- The Philadelphia Phillies parlayed two early rallies and five dazzling innings from rookie starter Severino Gonzalez into a 4-2 win Tuesday night over the Colorado Rockies.
Taking the turn of injured Chad Billingsley, Gonzalez, 22, made his third start in the big leagues and threw 45 of 65 pitches for strikes on a cold, damp night -- 40 degrees with 100 percent humidity when the game began. Gonzalez (2-1) gave up five singles, all during his final two innings after retiring the first nine batters he faced.
The Phillies scored two unearned runs with two out in the first, aided by Rockies starter Eddie Butler's throwing error in what turned into a 43-pitch inning. Butler (2-5) left after the third when he gave up two more runs in the third, the first on Ryan Howard's home run, and his pitch count had climbed to 77.
The Rockies scored a run in the seventh to cut Philadelphia's lead to 4-2. First baseman Wilin Rosario led off with a bloop double when right fielder Jeff Francoeur appeared to lose the ball in lights. Rosario took third on a fly out and scored on catcher Nick Hundley's grounder.
The win was the seventh in eight games for the Phillies. The Rockies have lost 15 of their past 18 games.
First baseman Howard went 3-for-5 and finished a triple shy of the cycle. Second baseman Chase Utley, who is emerging from a horrific slump, had two hits, as did Francoeur. Utley has gone 7-for-16 in his past five games to raise his average 41 points to .159.
Jonathan Papelbon retired the side in order in the ninth to earn his 11th save in as many opportunities.
Phillies starter Severino Gonzalez, taking the turn of injured Chad Billinsgley, retired the first nine Rockies batters he faced before center fielder Charlie Blackmon led off the fourth with a single. Blackmon stole second and scored on right fielder Carlos Gonzalez's one-out single to cut Philadelphia's lead to 4-1.
Gonzalez dashed to third on a two-out single by first baseman Wilin Rosario, whose baserunning gaffe ended any hopes the Rockies had for a bigger inning. Rosario tried to take second, but shortstop Freddy Galvis took the throw from left fielder Ben Revere and cut Rosario down at second to end the inning.
Rockies starter Eddie Butler lasted just three innings, the third time in four outings he pitched four innings or fewer. He retired the first two batters he faced on 11 pitches but ended up throwing 43 pitches, just 24 strikes, in the first inning and allowing two unearned runs due to his throwing error.
Consecutive singles by second baseman Chase Utley and first baseman Ryan Howard began the rally. Third baseman Maikel Franco hit a slow bouncer that Butler fielded on the third base side of the mound. The pitcher made a rushed, off-balance throw that was low, and the ball went between the legs of first baseman Wilin Rosario. Utley scored on the play, and right fielder Jeff Francouer followed with a run-scoring single.
Howard hit his eighth homer in the fourth, a solo shot, and the Phillies made it 4-0 in that inning when Francoeur blooped a two-out double and center fielder Odubel Herrera followed with a single.
Butler wound up allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks in three innings.
NOTES: With four strikeouts, the Rockies ended their franchise-record streak of seven consecutive games with 10 or more strikeouts. ... Rockies OF Brandon Barnes was recalled from Albuquerque, and OF Drew Stubbs was optioned to the Triple-A club. ... Colorado RHP Brooks Brown (right shoulder inflammation) will make his third rehab appearance Thursday for Albuquerque and could be activated Saturday when the Rockies are scheduled to play a doubleheader with the Giants. ... Phillies first base coach Juan Samuel will not be with the team Thursday and Friday while he attends the graduation of his daughter from law school at Barry University in Orlando, Fla. ... Phillies RHP Hector Neris was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley after Tuesday night's game, and RHP Severino Gonzalez was recalled Wednesday to start against the Rockies. ... RHP Aaron Harang, who is 4-3 with a 1.82 ERA, is just the third Phillies pitcher since 2000 to post an ERA under 2.00 over his first nine starts of the season. The others were Brett Myers in 2005 (1.88) and Roy Halladay in 2010 (1.64).