Rockies win on ninth-inning rally; rookie Colton Welker has big game in first career start

One retired from losing its 5th consecutive crippled Thursday, Rockies pinch hitter Ryan McMahon launched a two-run location tally and Sam Hilliard followed with a solo changeable successful a ninth-inning rally that led to a 4-3 triumph implicit the Philadelphia Phillies astatine Citizens Bank Park.

Colorado rookie 3rd basemen Colton Welker, making his archetypal MLB commencement and 2nd appearance, scored the tying tally aft connecting for his 2nd azygous with 2 outs successful the ninth and the Phillies starring 2-1. McMahon brought him location with a large blast to close field, and Hilliard followed with a akin agelong shot arsenic the adjacent batter.

“That was awesome,” McMahon said Welker’s archetypal commencement and his clutch ninth-inning hit. “The 1 successful the ninth was immense for him to travel up determination against (closer Ian Kennedy), who doesn’t person a precise casual fastball to deed … It was fun. We’re benignant of trying to play spoiler, right? We’re playing immoderate teams warring for playoff spots. So that’s king of going to beryllium our gig and it was benignant of amusive to spoiling the night.”

The Phillies threatened successful the bottommost of the ninth, advancing runners to 2nd and 3rd with 1 out. But reliever Carlos Estevez got the last 2 outs, the second connected a swinging strikeout.

Welker, 23, delivered the Rockies’ archetypal RBI connected his archetypal vocation major-league deed successful the 5th inning.

Welker, who was issued an 80-game suspension connected May 6 pursuing a affirmative trial of a banned substance, singled connected his 2nd at-bat against the Phillies and his 3rd travel to an MLB plate. He finished 2-for-4.

“I consciousness unbelievable. That was decidedly a imagination travel existent successful beforehand of my household and closest friends,” Welker said. “I’m conscionable precise grateful close now.”

Kennedy took the loss, his 3rd blown save. He mightiness person been amazed to spot Welker measurement to the sheet successful the ninth inning — and not a pinch-hitter.

“It means a ton, definitely, for a young kid to get that accidental and they spot you to spell retired determination successful the ninth against a truly bully person successful Philadelphia (which), has playoff hopes,” Welker said. “To person that spot was precise peculiar for me.”

Colorado received six beardown innings from starting pitcher Antonio Senzatela, who allowed conscionable 4 hits and 2 runs. The Phillies took a 2-1 pb successful the sixth erstwhile Rockies 2nd baseman Brendan Rodgers muffed a double-play attempt, and lone got the pb runner.

Trailing 1-0 successful the 4th inning, Welker delivered a crisp two-out, RBI azygous to halfway field, scoring shortstop Trevor Story, who opened the inning with a triple. Welker who made his major-league debut arsenic a late-inning pinch hitter successful Wednesday’s nonaccomplishment to San Francisco, attended Stoneman Douglas High School successful Parkland, Fla., wherever 17 students and unit died successful a horrific 2018 shooting.

Welker, who has participated successful the Rockies’ past 3 outpouring grooming camps, was selected by Colorado successful the 4th circular of the 2016 draft. He is the club’s No. 20-ranked prospect.

“We person an knowing of who helium is arsenic a player, wherever he’s travel from arsenic a insignificant leaguer to wherever helium is now,” Colorado manager Bud Black said pregame. “There’s a maturity that has taken place, there’s a accomplishment level that has improved. I deliberation the bat has benignant of been the trademark of Colton.”

On Deck

Rockies RHP Germán Márquez (11-10, 4.08 ERA) astatine Phillies TBA

5:05 p.m., Friday, Citizens Bank Park

TV: ATTRM

Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM

Marquez, the 2021 All-Star astatine Coors Field, volition marque his 29th commencement of the play and sixth vocation commencement against Philadelphia. He has struggled of late, with a 7.77 ERA successful his past 5 starts. Before that stretch, helium had a 1.94 ERA successful 9 appearances. Marquez has been acold much palmy astatine location (3.16 ERA) than connected the roadworthy (5.37 ERA).

Trending: The Rockies person 16 wins against the Phillies since 2017, their astir wins against an hostile extracurricular of the NL West.

At issue: Colorado is 4-5 successful September aft finishing .500 oregon amended successful June (14-13), July (12-12) and August (14-13).

Pitching probables

Saturday: Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (5-7, 4.69) astatine Phillies RHP Zack Wheeler (12-9, 3.93), 4:05 p.m., ATTRM

Sunday: Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (0-1, 20.25) astatine Phillies RHP Aaron Nola (7-8 5.57), 11:05 p.m., ATTRM