Everyone knew that coming into the season, the Phillies had a pitching staff for the ages. Five quality starters and four dependable bullpen arms could launch the Phillies to the World Series they’ve so fiercely desired.
On Monday afternoon, that pitching kept the Phillies in the game until the offense arrived. For the second time in four games, it came late against an opposing bullpen.
While the offense struggled, Cristopher Sánchez debuted his newfound velocity. In his first start of 2024, Sánchez averaged 94.3 MPH on his sinker. In his first game of 2025, he sat at 96 MPH and topped out at 98.1.
His final batter bit him as catcher Hunter Goodman launched a homer to center field to give the Rockies a slim 1-0 lead. In total, he allowed just four hits and two walks while striking out seven.
Orion Kerkering and Joe Ross kept the score at 1-0 until the bats thawed.
Rockies starter Germán Márquez deserves credit for his performance against the Phillies. He scattered four hits in six innings pitched. He struck out four and without walking anyone.
His defense shone behind him as well. After Max Kepler doubled in his first at-bat in Citizens Bank Park, Nick Castellanos lined a ball that Statcast gave a .790 expected batting average. Unfortunately for Castellanos, shortstop Ezequiel Tovar lept in the air and snagged it for the out.
He left the game after just 83 pitches when Manager Bud Black went to lefty Scott Alexander. Alexander got two outs on a Castellanos double-play but quickly ran into trouble. Bryson Stott beat the matchup and laced a double. A pinch-hitting Trea Turner, who was medically cleared just before the first pitch, followed with a walk.
That was enough for Buf Black as he turned to Victor Vodnik to face Edmundo Sosa. As he’s done in the past, he made the most of his playing time. He lined a ball that split the center and right fielders for a double, bringing home Stott and Turner. “He’s always ready,” said Manager Rob Thomson. “When he gets the chance to get some consistent at-bats, he shows what he can do.”
Things didn’t get easier for Vodnik as he gave up Kyle Schwarber‘s third homer of the season, pushing the score to 4-1.
José Alvarado pitched the eighth inning and tore up the Rockies’ hitters. He struck out the side (with a walk mixed in). So far, in two innings, Alvarado has struck out five of the seven hitters he’s faced.
Max Kepler had a home debut to remember for the Phillies. The veteran outfielder had a double in the second, a single in the seventh, and capped it off with a homer in the eighth. “Today was the first game that I’ve seen where he looks like he got his swing from Spring Training,” said Manager Rob Thomson.
Nick Castellanos immediately followed suit, going back-to-back to make the score 6-1 Phillies.
Jordan Romano, who started warming up when it was still a save situation, got the call for the ninth inning. He looked much sharper than in his Phillies’ debut in Washington. He sat at 96 MPH with his fastball and recorded two strikeouts en route to the Phillies’ third win of the young season.
