PHILADELPHIA -- Jeff Hoffman turned a spot start into a splendid audition for a more permanent role in Colorado's rotation.
Hoffman struck out seven and tossed three-hit ball over seven innings to lead the Rockies to an 8-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night.
Hoffman (2-0) also had his first big league hit and the National League-leading Rockies continued to cruise away from home. They are the best in the majors with a 16-7 road record and are 5-2 on this season-long 10-game road trip.
"That's two wins toward going to winning the West and winning, hopefully, the World Series," Hoffman said.
The 22-year-old-Hoffman, rated Colorado's No. 2 prospect, made his second spot start of the season. He was needed because the Rockies played a doubleheader last week and went with Hoffman rather than use a starter on short rest. He'll likely return to the minors but certainly impressed against the woeful Phillies.
So what's next for Hoffman?
"Can't tell you," manager Bud Black said, smiling. "Sensitive information."
The tarp covered the field until 30 minutes or so before first pitch, the sixth straight game the Rockies failed to take batting practice.
No worries. Nolan Arenado hit a two-run homer and the Rockies scored four runs off Phillies starter Jerad Eickhoff (0-5).
Hoffman, the No. 9 overall pick in the 2014 draft, threw 99 pitches and flashed the command needed to establish himself as a future member of the rotation. He retired the first 11 batters of the game and struck out Maikel Franco with runners on first and third to end the fourth.
"He has the physical attributes to be a good one," Black said. "There are some other boxes he has to check off."
Mixing the occasional breaking stuff with a dominating fastball, Hoffman checked a box or two against the Phillies.
"I think they have some confidence in me now," Hoffman said.
But a lot of pitchers are sharp this season against the struggling Phillies. Philadelphia opened a seven-game homestand with its 18th loss in the past 22 games.
"There's more talent on this team than what we've shown," Phillies general manager Matt Klentak said. "We'll pull out of it. We will. That's what talented players will do. I'm not going to tell the fans they shouldn't be frustrated. We've gone through a tough stretch."
Charlie Blackmon hit a two-run double and DJ LeMahieu had an RBI single in the third for a 3-0 lead that was all the run support Hoffman needed. Arenado's 12th homer of the season came in a four-run ninth that blew the game open.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Phillies: Triple-A second baseman Jesmuel Valentin could miss the rest of the season with a separated shoulder that will require surgery. Valentin, son of former major leaguer Jose Valentin, was originally hurt in winter ball and recently aggravated the injury.
LINEUP SHAKEUP
Michael Saunders (batting .232) was dropped from the middle of the order to eighth. Saunders, an All-Star with Toronto last season, had only four homers and 15 RBI in a disappointing first two months with Philadelphia. Klentak supported manager Pete Mackanin's decision to bump Saunders in the order. "At the same time, we still have plenty of confidence that Michael's going to get himself out of this," Klentak said. The Phillies still had only three hits for the second straight game.
Klentak said there was no thought of moving scuffling starter Vince Velasquez into the bullpen. Klentak also said pitching coach Bob McClure's job is safe.
BALL THREE
Neither team walked.
UP NEXT
Rockies: RHP German Marquez (2-2, 4.34 ERA) takes the mound in his ninth career start.
Phillies: RHP Zach Eflin (0-1, 4.25 ERA) allowed seven runs in his previous outing and looks to win for the first time in seven starts.
---
More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
Colorado Rockies
Hoffman struck out seven and tossed three-hit ball over seven innings to lead the Rockies to an 8-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night.
Hoffman (2-0) also had his first big league hit and the National League-leading Rockies continued to cruise away from home. They are the best in the majors with a 16-7 road record and are 5-2 on this season-long 10-game road trip.
"That's two wins toward going to winning the West and winning, hopefully, the World Series," Hoffman said.
The 22-year-old-Hoffman, rated Colorado's No. 2 prospect, made his second spot start of the season. He was needed because the Rockies played a doubleheader last week and went with Hoffman rather than use a starter on short rest. He'll likely return to the minors but certainly impressed against the woeful Phillies.
So what's next for Hoffman?
"Can't tell you," manager Bud Black said, smiling. "Sensitive information."
The tarp covered the field until 30 minutes or so before first pitch, the sixth straight game the Rockies failed to take batting practice.
No worries. Nolan Arenado hit a two-run homer and the Rockies scored four runs off Phillies starter Jerad Eickhoff (0-5).
Hoffman, the No. 9 overall pick in the 2014 draft, threw 99 pitches and flashed the command needed to establish himself as a future member of the rotation. He retired the first 11 batters of the game and struck out Maikel Franco with runners on first and third to end the fourth.
"He has the physical attributes to be a good one," Black said. "There are some other boxes he has to check off."
Mixing the occasional breaking stuff with a dominating fastball, Hoffman checked a box or two against the Phillies.
"I think they have some confidence in me now," Hoffman said.
But a lot of pitchers are sharp this season against the struggling Phillies. Philadelphia opened a seven-game homestand with its 18th loss in the past 22 games.
"There's more talent on this team than what we've shown," Phillies general manager Matt Klentak said. "We'll pull out of it. We will. That's what talented players will do. I'm not going to tell the fans they shouldn't be frustrated. We've gone through a tough stretch."
Charlie Blackmon hit a two-run double and DJ LeMahieu had an RBI single in the third for a 3-0 lead that was all the run support Hoffman needed. Arenado's 12th homer of the season came in a four-run ninth that blew the game open.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Phillies: Triple-A second baseman Jesmuel Valentin could miss the rest of the season with a separated shoulder that will require surgery. Valentin, son of former major leaguer Jose Valentin, was originally hurt in winter ball and recently aggravated the injury.
LINEUP SHAKEUP
Michael Saunders (batting .232) was dropped from the middle of the order to eighth. Saunders, an All-Star with Toronto last season, had only four homers and 15 RBI in a disappointing first two months with Philadelphia. Klentak supported manager Pete Mackanin's decision to bump Saunders in the order. "At the same time, we still have plenty of confidence that Michael's going to get himself out of this," Klentak said. The Phillies still had only three hits for the second straight game.
Klentak said there was no thought of moving scuffling starter Vince Velasquez into the bullpen. Klentak also said pitching coach Bob McClure's job is safe.
BALL THREE
Neither team walked.
UP NEXT
Rockies: RHP German Marquez (2-2, 4.34 ERA) takes the mound in his ninth career start.
Phillies: RHP Zach Eflin (0-1, 4.25 ERA) allowed seven runs in his previous outing and looks to win for the first time in seven starts.
---
More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
7:05PM,EDT,May 22,2017
Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia,Pennsylvania
Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia,Pennsylvania
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Colorado - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Jerad Eickhoff pitching for Philadelphia | COL | PHI |
| Blackmon struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| LeMahieu grounded out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Arenado lined out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Philadelphia - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Jeff Hoffman pitching for Colorado | COL | PHI |
| Hernández lined out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Galvis flied out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Altherr struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Jerad Eickhoff pitching for Philadelphia | COL | PHI |
| González singled to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Reynolds popped out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Parra grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, González out at second. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Philadelphia - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Jeff Hoffman pitching for Colorado | COL | PHI |
| Joseph lined out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Franco lined out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Herrera grounded out to pitcher. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Jerad Eickhoff pitching for Philadelphia | COL | PHI |
| Amarista singled to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Wolters singled to left center, Amarista to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Hoffman sacrificed to pitcher, Amarista to third, Wolters to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Blackmon doubled to left, Amarista and Wolters scored. | 2 | 0 |
| Blackmon stole third. | 2 | 0 |
| LeMahieu singled to left, Blackmon scored. | 3 | 0 |
| Arenado grounded out to shortstop, LeMahieu to second. | 3 | 0 |
| González popped out to shortstop. | 3 | 0 |
| 3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Philadelphia - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Jeff Hoffman pitching for Colorado | COL | PHI |
| Rupp struck out swinging. | 3 | 0 |
| Saunders popped out to first. | 3 | 0 |
| Eickhoff struck out looking. | 3 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Jerad Eickhoff pitching for Philadelphia | COL | PHI |
| Reynolds struck out looking. | 3 | 0 |
| Parra grounded out to second. | 3 | 0 |
| Amarista lined out to center. | 3 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Philadelphia - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Jeff Hoffman pitching for Colorado | COL | PHI |
| Hernández lined out to left. | 3 | 0 |
| Galvis grounded out to first. | 3 | 0 |
| Altherr doubled to deep right. | 3 | 0 |
| Joseph singled to right, Altherr scored. | 3 | 1 |
| Franco struck out swinging. | 3 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Jerad Eickhoff pitching for Philadelphia | COL | PHI |
| Wolters flied out to center. | 3 | 1 |
| Hoffman singled to center. | 3 | 1 |
| Blackmon struck out swinging. | 3 | 1 |
| LeMahieu lined out to second. | 3 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Philadelphia - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Jeff Hoffman pitching for Colorado | COL | PHI |
| Herrera flied out to left. | 3 | 1 |
| Rupp grounded out to third. | 3 | 1 |
| Saunders flied out to right. | 3 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Jerad Eickhoff pitching for Philadelphia | COL | PHI |
| Arenado struck out swinging. | 3 | 1 |
| González hit a ground rule double to shallow right. | 3 | 1 |
| Reynolds singled to left, González to third. | 3 | 1 |
| Parra hit sacrifice fly to right, González scored. | 4 | 1 |
| Amarista singled to right, Reynolds to second. | 4 | 1 |
| Wolters grounded out to second. | 4 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Philadelphia - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Jeff Hoffman pitching for Colorado | COL | PHI |
| Stassi hit for Eickhoff. | 4 | 1 |
| Stassi flied out to right. | 4 | 1 |
| Hernández flied out to left. | 4 | 1 |
| Galvis struck out swinging. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Pat Neshek pitching for Philadelphia | COL | PHI |
| Neshek relieved Eickhoff. | 4 | 1 |
| Hoffman struck out swinging. | 4 | 1 |
| Blackmon reached on infield single to third. | 4 | 1 |
| LeMahieu struck out swinging. | 4 | 1 |
| Arenado flied out to right. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Philadelphia - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Jeff Hoffman pitching for Colorado | COL | PHI |
| Altherr doubled to right. | 4 | 1 |
| Joseph struck out swinging. | 4 | 1 |
| Franco struck out swinging. | 4 | 1 |
| Herrera grounded out to third. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Joely Rodriguez pitching for Philadelphia | COL | PHI |
| Rodríguez relieved Neshek. | 4 | 1 |
| Blanco at third base. | 4 | 1 |
| González grounded out to pitcher. | 4 | 1 |
| Reynolds grounded out to second. | 4 | 1 |
| Parra grounded out to pitcher. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Philadelphia - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Scott Oberg pitching for Colorado | COL | PHI |
| Oberg relieved Hoffman. | 4 | 1 |
| Rupp struck out swinging. | 4 | 1 |
| Dunn relieved Oberg. | 4 | 1 |
| Saunders struck out swinging. | 4 | 1 |
| Blanco struck out swinging. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Joely Rodriguez pitching for Philadelphia | COL | PHI |
| Amarista reached on infield single to shortstop. | 4 | 1 |
| Wolters hit by pitch, Amarista to second. | 4 | 1 |
| Valaika hit for Dunn. | 4 | 1 |
| Valaika sacrificed to catcher, Amarista to third, Wolters to second. | 4 | 1 |
| Blackmon safe at second on error by first baseman Joseph, Amarista and Wolters scored. | 6 | 1 |
| García relieved Rodríguez. | 6 | 1 |
| LeMahieu lined out to right, Blackmon to third. | 6 | 1 |
| Arenado homered to left (405 feet), Blackmon scored. | 8 | 1 |
| González reached on infield single to shortstop. | 8 | 1 |
| Reynolds struck out swinging. | 8 | 1 |
| 4 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Philadelphia - Bottom of 9th | SCORE | |
| Jake McGee pitching for Colorado | COL | PHI |
| McGee relieved Dunn. | 8 | 1 |
| Hernández struck out looking. | 8 | 1 |
| Galvis grounded out to third. | 8 | 1 |
| Altherr grounded out to shortstop. | 8 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
Colorado Rockies
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackmon CF | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 25 | .321 | .358 | .588 |
| LeMahieu 2B | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 16 | .296 | .367 | .391 |
| Arenado 3B | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 20 | .291 | .349 | .589 |
| González RF | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | .234 | .309 | .357 |
| Reynolds 1B | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 23 | .319 | .396 | .575 |
| Parra LF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 19 | .254 | .283 | .377 |
| Amarista SS | 4 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | .370 | .382 | .593 |
| Wolters C | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | .313 | .403 | .403 |
| Hoffman P | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 | .200 | .200 | .200 |
Oberg P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
Dunn P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
a-Valaika PH
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .245 | .273 | .547 |
McGee P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Totals | 37 | 8 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 157 | |||
| a-sacrificed to catcher for M Dunn in the 9th | ||||||||||
| BATTING 2B: Blackmon (11, Eickhoff); González (10, Eickhoff) HR: Arenado (12, 9th inning off García 1 on, 2 Out) RBI: Blackmon 3 (36), LeMahieu (17), Parra (15), Arenado 2 (32) S: Valaika, Hoffman SF: Parra 2-out RBI: Arenado 2 GIDP: Parra Rockies RISP: 4-8 (LeMahieu 1-2, Reynolds 1-1, Wolters 0-1, Blackmon 1-2, González 0-1, Arenado 1-1) Team LOB: 6 | ||||||||||
| BASERUNNING SB: Blackmon (4, 3rd base off Eickhoff/Rupp) | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA |
| Attendance | 21,251 (48.7% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:03 |
| Weather | 64 degrees, cloudy |
| Wind | 2 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Jerry Meals, First Base - Chris Conroy, Second Base - Tom Woodring, Third Base - Ron Kulpa |
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