Phillies, facing Rockies, get second shot at sweep

The Philadelphia Phillies failed to record their first sweep of the season last weekend, but they get another opportunity Thursday afternoon when they conclude a home series with the Colorado Rockies.

The Phillies defeated the Washington Nationals in their first two games, but they were unable to sweep that series as they lost 5-1 on Sunday. Philadelphia is off to a similar start to the current series, winning the first two games heading into a Thursday matinee.

In the Phillies’ 5-1 victory on Wednesday, Zack Wheeler struck out 10 over seven innings of one-run ball, and Edmundo Sosa and Trea Turner each notched three hits to fuel the offense.

Sosa, in particular, is on fire to start the young season. The versatile utilityman is 9-for-15 (.600) with multiple hits in each of his four games.

“The way that (Sosa’s) been taking his at-bats and even the spring training he had, the guy is just a great personality in the way that he handles his business,” Wheeler said. “An all-time pro.”

Kyle Freeland allowed three runs and nine hits in 6 2/3 innings for Colorado, which has lost four of its first five games. Hunter Goodman homered for the Rockies’ only run. Colorado is averaging two runs per game on the young season.

“As a group, we’re not swinging the bats great,” Colorado manager Bud Black said. “We have a couple of guys who are, but like we’ve talked about many times, for an offense to really gel and click and score runs, in your nine-man lineup, you need five or six guys who are swinging the bat great.”

Kris Bryant (1-for-14) and Michael Toglia (1-for-19) are among the Rockies who are still looking to find their groove.

“Eventually the guys who we know are gonna hit are going to start hitting,” Black said.

In the series finale, both teams will call upon a starting pitcher who has been through plenty of adversity in recent years.

Taijuan Walker (3-7, 7.10 ERA in 2024) gets the nod for Philadelphia in his season debut with All-Star lefty Ranger Suarez on the injured list. The veteran right-hander was removed from the Phillies’ rotation last summer and finished the season with an opponents’ batting average of .317 with 24 home runs allowed in 83 2/3 innings.

“He went through a tough time last year, he really did — and I felt for him,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said during spring training. “But to his credit, he got after it in the offseason, and he’s a different guy right now.”

Antonio Senzatela (0-0, 0.00 ERA) takes the ball for Colorado after a bizarre season debut. The right-hander pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rays, scattering nine hits and two walks without a strikeout.

Senzatela missed most of the previous two seasons following Tommy John surgery, not to mention a knee injury that shortened his 2022 season. He returned to make three starts last September, allowing 10 runs (nine earned), 15 hits and eight walks over 12 1/3 innings.

“Being out of the game for almost three years was hard,” Senzatela said last month. “Being outside and having fun, enjoying the day, seeing the guys make plays, is really fun and I want to be a part of that.”

–Field Level Media