Phillies vie for 40th win as Velasquez opposes rookie Freeland, Rockies

Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies since 1995. The Phillies have won 40 of their 78 games all-time at the venue, including their most recent game on July 10, 2016. (Ken Lund/Flickr Creative Commons)

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

DENVER — Looking to snap their three-game losing streak, the Philadelphia Phillies (39-67) will send RHP Vince Velasquez to the mound against rookie LHP Kyle Freeland and the Colorado Rockies (62-47) in Friday evening's series opener at Coors Field.

The Phillies were swept for the ninth time in blowing an eighth-inning lead during Thursday evening's series finale against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. They were swept nine times all of last season. The loss established a new all-time interleague losing streak record, as the Phillies dropped their 12th straight game to manager Mike Scioscia's club. The previous high losing skid was 11, set by both the Pittsburgh Pirates against the Oakland A's (2002-2013) and the Seattle Mariners against the Washington Nationals (2005-2014).

Six-time All-Star outfielder Mike Trout put the Angels up early with a two-run first inning home run, his 21st of the season and second of the series. The Phillies answered back the next half-inning, as rookie outfielder Nick Williams — returning from an illness which had sidelined him from Wednesday's contest — hit a two-run blast to center, his fifth. Four batters later, shortstop Freddy Galvis singled to right, scoring left fielder Hyun Soo Kim and second baseman Cesar Hernandez. Taking a 4-3 lead into the eighth, reliever RHP Luis Garcia blew his third save of the season and suffered his second loss, allowing two runs on a hit and two walks spanning 25 pitches (15 strikes). Angels closer Bud Norris went on to notch his 17th save. Right fielder Aaron Altherr (hamstring) went 0-5 with two strikeouts in his return.

The Phillies had not fallen in 12 straight against any opponent since the Houston Astros (2004-2005). After the game, the Phillies optioned RHP Jake Thompson to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. A corresponding move will be made later today. Thompson went 1-1 with a 1.80 ERA in two starts as the fill-in for traded starter Jeremy Hellickson (Baltimore Orioles).

The Phillies are just 5-15 (.250) against National League West opponents this season. Despite being 15 games over .500, the Rockies trail the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers by 14 1/2 games. The Rockies currently own a 5.5-game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers for the second National League Wild Card spot.

Starting Pitching Matchup:

Velasquez Career vs. COL: 1-0, 4.60 ERA, 3 G, 3 GS, 15 2/3 IP, 23 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 2 HR, 5 BB, 20 SO, 1.787 WHIP

Velasquez, 25, is coming off of tossing seven scoreless innings against the Atlanta Braves in his most recent start on July 30. It was just the second time of his career of not allowing a run through seven-plus frames, the other being his 16-strikeout shutout effort over the San Diego Padres during his Citizens Bank Park debut on April 14, 2016.

The Montclair, California native won his only career start at Coors Field on July 8, 2016, where in six innings he allowed two runs on five singles, three doubles, two walks, six strikeouts and 98 pitches. It was Velasquez's final victory in his eight-win debut season with the Phillies. He would go 0-4 with a 5.33 ERA in his final nine starts of 2016.

Velasquez's last win this season came on May 1. He is 0-4 with a 4.54 ERA in his eight starts since with 38 strikeouts in 39 2/3 innings.

Season Splits, By Month:

• April: 4 GS, 1-2, 6.33 ERA, 21 1/3 IP, 22 SO, 12 BB, .259/.358/.519
• May: 6 GS, 1-3, 5.02 ERA, 28 2/3 IP, 31 SO, 9 BB, .274/.331/.487
• June: 0 GS
• July: 3 GS, 0-1, 2.81 ERA, 16 IP, 11 SO, 6 BB, .281/.349/.456

Freeland Career vs. PHI: N/A

Freeland, 24, will make his 21st career start and his first against the Phillies. He has won each of his last three starts, including a near no-hit effort against the Chicago White Sox on July 9, where he allowed just one hit through 8 1/3 scoreless innings and a career-high 126 pitches (80 strikes).

The rookie southpaw was drafted by the Phillies out of high school in the 35th round of the amateur draft, but did not sign. Freeland went on to attend the University of Evansville in Indiana and later became the eighth overall selection three years later, drafted by his hometown club in the Rockies. 

Season Splits, By Month:

• April: 5 G, 5 GS, 3-1, 2.93 ERA, 27 2/3 IP, 16 SO, 12 BB, .269/.353/.346
• May: 5 G, 5 GS, 2-2, 4.20 ERA, 30 IP, 20 SO, 14 BB, .239/.331/.413
• June: 6 G, 6 GS, 3-3, 4.25 ERA, 36 IP, 19 SO, 10 BB, .317/.373/.483
• July: 5 G, 4 GS, 3-1, 3.25 ERA, 27 2/3 IP, 21 SO, 8 BB, .231/.292/.394

Starting Lineups:

Broadcast Information:

• First pitch: 8:40 p.m.
• TV: CSN
• Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP

Game Notes:

• The Phillies are 1-3 in four games against the Rockies this season, outscored 24-7 and outhit 45-22. Manager Pete Mackanin's club took five of seven meetings against the Rockies in 2016, including splitting a four-game series at Coors Field July 7-10.
• Injury Report:
• Phillies
• C Andrew Knapp (bruised right hand), day-to-day
• RHP Pedro Beato (strained left hamstring), out indefinitely
• RHP Casey Fien (rotator cuff strain), out indefinitely
• RHP Clay Buchholz (forearm surgery), possible September return
• Rockies
• 1B/OF Ian Desmond (right calf strain), status uncertain
• LHP Jake McGee (minor mid-back strain), possible early August return
• LHP Tyler Anderson (left knee arthroscopic surgery), possible late August return
• RHP Chad Bettis (cancer), possible August return
• Current members of the Rockies are batting .415/.446/.642 in 53 combined career at-bats against Velasquez with six doubles, two home runs, seven RBIs, three walks and 14 strikeouts.

What's Next:

• Saturday, August 5, 2017: at Colorado Rockies, 8:10 p.m.
• Coors Field
• RHP Nick Pivetta (4-6, 5.42 ERA) vs. RHP Jon Gray (3-2, 5.52 ERA)
• TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP