DENVER -- The Phillies were looking to notch a 10th straight tilt in Colorado on Sunday, having won nine in a row against the Rockies. A dominant pitching performance from Tomoyuki Sugano and a trio of home runs by former Philly picks stood in the way however, as the Phils fell to Colorado, 4-1.
Taijuan Walker absorbed the bulk of the damage in the first frame, allowing three two-out runs on a solo homer to the second deck from Mickey Moniak, the Phillies’ first-round Draft pick from 2016, and a two-run shot from TJ Rumfield, Philly’s 12th-round pick from 2021.
Walker lasted five innings, allowing all four runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out four.
The Phillies struck back in the second with an Adolis García solo homer to right field, but it was all the damage they could muster against Sugano in his six innings on the hill.
Kyle Schwarber hit a massive fly ball with two on and two outs in the fifth that would have been a homer in 28 ballparks, but it was caught on the warning track by Rockies center fielder Jake McCarthy.