Phillies, Nola Vie for 9th Series Win Opposite Rockies

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

As RHP Aaron Nola looks for his fourth win, the Philadelphia Phillies (25-19) will play for their ninth series win as they take on the Colorado Rockies (20-23) and RHP Antonio Senzatela Saturday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park.

RELATED | Phillies Snap Skid Behind Irvin, Clutch 2-Out Hitting

In Friday's opener, the Phillies snapped their three-game skid, while also winning just their second game of their last nine meetings with the Rockies, 5-4. All five of their runs scored came with two outs, including Andrew McCutchen's two-run home run and Bryce Harper's two-run double. Rookie starter Cole Irvin improved to 2-0 through two career starts, tossing six innings while allowing four runs (three earned). Jose Alvarez, Pat Neshek and Hector Neris combined for three scoreless innings in relief.

This season, the Phillies have the fifth-best walk percentage (10.3) and have scored the 13th-most runs, albeit slugging the seventh-fewest home runs (48).


Starting Pitching Matchup:

Colorado Rockies (20-23) Philadelphia Phillies (25-19)
RHP Antonio Senzatela RHP Aaron Nola
(3-2, 5.35 ERA) (3-0, 4.86 ERA)

RHP Antonio Senzatela, Age: 24

  • Career vs. PHI: 0-1, 4.97 ERA, 3 G, 2 GS, 12 2/3 IP, 15 H, 7 R, 7 ER, HR, 5 BB, 7 SO, 1.579 WHIP
  • Career at Citizens Bank Park: N/A

Senzatela has a 6.33 ERA, 1.481 WHIP and 19-10 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his last five starts, which includes a losing decision against the Phillies on April 20.

Last5Starts

RHP Aaron Nola, Age: 25

  • Career vs. COL: 2-0, 2.79 ERA, 3 G, 3 GS, 19 1/3 IP, 19 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 HR, 3 BB, 26 SO, 1.138 WHIP
  • Career at Citizens Bank Park: 25-14, 3.20 ERA, 52 G, 52 GS, 323 2/3 IP, 278 H, 123 R, 115 ER, 40 HR, 92 BB, 369 SO, 1.143 WHIP

Nola will look to rebound after tossing just three innings in his most recent start, following a 52-minute rain delay on Monday against the Brewers; the outing was Nola's third out of his nine 2019 starts when he tossed four or fewer innings — he had no such starts in 2018.


Starting Lineups:

Colorado Rockies (20-23) Philadelphia Phillies (25-19)
  Position Player Bats   Position Player Bats
1 RF Charlie Blackmon L 1 LF Andrew McCutchen R
2 SS Trevor Story R 2 SS Jean Segura R
3 CF David Dahl L 3 RF Bryce Harper L
4 3B Nolan Arenado R 4 1B Rhys Hoskins R
5 1B Daniel Murphy L 5 C J.T. Realmuto R
6 LF Raimel Tapia L 6 2B Cesar Hernandez S
7 2B Brendan Rodgers R 7 CF Odubel Herrera L
8 C Tony Wolters L 8 3B Maikel Franco R
9 P Antonio Senzatela R 9 P Aaron Nola R


Broadcast Information:

  • First pitch: 4:05 p.m.
  • TV: NBCSP
  • Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP

Game Notes:

Standings

  • The Phillies and Atlanta Braves each won on Friday, while former Phillies southpaw Cole Hamels tossed five innings and allowed just two runs opposite the Washington Nationals and RHP Max Scherzer. Hamels, slated to face the Phillies next week, improved to 4-0, while Scherzer fell to 2-5. 


  • Phillies series record: 8-4-2
  • J.T. Realmuto is tied for the second-most hits among catchers (41); Rhys Hoskins the eighth-most among first baseman (42); Cesar Hernandez the third-most among second basemen (47); Jean Segura the 11th-most among shortstops (46); Maikel Franco the 19th-most among third basemen; McCutchen the 15th-most among left fielders (39); Odubel Herrera the 30th-most among center fielders (25); and Harper the 29th-most among right fielders (35).
  • Segura has among the longest active hitting streaks (8) in which he is slashing .382/.400/.618 with six runs scored, 13 hits, two home runs, five RBI, five strikeouts and one walk.

HittingStreaks

  • Rockies center fielder Ian Desmond is 0-for-8 in his career against Nola with seven strikeouts. The two-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger Award winner launched a two-run home run against Irvin in Friday's opener; Desmond is not in Saturday's lineup (click to expand).

00CareerVS




What's Next:

  • Sunday, May 19, 2019: vs. Colorado Rockies, 1:05 p.m.
    • Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pa.
    • LHP Kyle Freeland (2-5, 5.68 ERA) vs. RHP Jerad Eickhoff (2-2, 2.65 ERA)
    • TV: NBCSP; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
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