Rockies 4, Phillies 1
PHILADELPHIA -- The Colorado Rockies slugged their way to a three-game sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies with a 4-1 victory Sunday at Citizens Bank Park.
After hitting six home runs over the first two games, the Rockies (22-26) clubbed two more, as third baseman Nolan Arenado and second baseman DJ LeMahieu connected for a pair of two-run shots to help Colorado win its seventh game in the last eight.
On the contrary, the Phillies (19-33) homered just once over their last seven games -- all losses -- marking their longest skid of the season to dip to a season-worst 14 games under .500.
In the series, the Rockies out-homered the Phillies 8-1 and the long balls accounted for all but two of Colorado's 13 runs.
Left-hander Chris Rusin (1-0) saved the Rockies on the mound, pitching 4 2/3 scoreless innings in relief of starter Jordan Lyles, who left after 1 1/3 innings with an aggravation of his sprained left big toe.
Right-hander Brooks Brown then saved Rosin in the bottom of the seventh inning, when he inherited a bases-loaded, no-out jam and struck out catcher Cameron Rupp, pinch-hitter Darin Ruf and right fielder Ben Revere to hold Colorado's three-run lead.
Right-hander Scott Oberg pitched a scoreless ninth for his first save of the season.
It didn't take long for the Rockies to flex their muscles, as Arenado crushed his 12th home run of the season to deep center field in the top of the first inning to hand Colorado a 2-0 advantage.
In his last seven games, Arenado is 12-for-28 (.429) with five home runs and 14 RBIs.
Philadelphia got one back in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI double by Rupp, but back came the Rockies with another homer, a two-run blast by LeMahieu in the top of the fifth inning.
LeMahieu finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored, raising his batting average to .335.
Phillies right-hander Jerome Williams (3-5) surrendered all four runs in five innings of work, as his ERA rose to 5.49.
And again, Philadelphia's bats offered little support. The major league's lowest-scoring offense went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position, as the Phillies are now 1-for-their-last-28 in such situations.
Third baseman Cody Asche led the way with 2-for-4 effort and a run scored.
NOTES: Rockies RHP Jordan Lyles, Sunday's starter, left after 1 1/3 innings with an aggravation of his sprained left big toe. He was relieved by LHP Chris Rusin. ... Rockies OF Ben Paulsen left the game in the middle of the fourth inning with a migraine headache. He was replaced by OF Brandon Barnes. ... The Rockies rested SS Troy Tulowitzki, as SS Daniel Descalso started in his place. Tulowitzki entered Sunday hitting .284 with a .302 on-base percentage, four home runs and 20 RBIs. ... Phillies SS Freddy Galvis and C Carlos Ruiz received the day off, as SS Cesar Hernandez and C Cameron Rupp got starts. Galvis came into the game hitting .135 since May 16 with 13 strikeouts. ... The Rockies head home to start a four-game series on Monday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, with a doubleheader on Tuesday. In order, the probable pitchers are RHP Kyle Kendrick, LHP Jorge De La Rosa, TBD and RHP Chad Bettis. ... The Phillies have a day off Monday before they start a three-game series at home Tuesday against the Cincinnati Reds. In order, the probable pitchers are RHP Sean O'Sullivan, LHP Cole Hamels and RHP Aaron Harang.