The Philadelphia Phillies (17-22) clawed their way back from a six-run deficit, forcing extra innings in their series opener against the Colorado Rockies (16-23)—only to see the comeback slip through their fingers in a heartbreaking 9-7 loss.
It was a tale of two games for starter Jesús Luzardo. He looked sharp early, striking out six batters and even fanning the side in the third inning. But the fourth inning turned into a nightmare: five runs on five hits and two walks, digging a hole that seemed too deep to climb out of.
Kyle Schwarber sparked the comeback in the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run to lead off the inning—his 200th as a Phillie. J.T. Realmuto followed with an RBI double, cutting the deficit to four. But the Rockies answered right back in the top of the seventh on a Tyler Freeman home run.
Then came a moment that had fans scratching their heads. Manager Don Mattingly sent closer Jhoan Duran to the mound in the eighth inning—just to get him work after returning from the injured list. It seemed like a white flag, but the Phillies' offense had other plans.
The bottom of the eighth was pure electricity. Bryce Harper led off with a single and scored on a Brandon Marsh hit. Bryson Stott ripped an RBI double—his fifth extra-base hit in May after managing only four in all of April. Then rookie Justin Crawford crushed a game-tying, two-run homer: his first career Major League blast, and one that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
Jose Alvarado held the Rockies scoreless in the ninth, but the Phillies couldn't solve Colorado closer Victor Vodnik. So to the tenth inning they went.
In extras, Orion Kerkering allowed a one-out single that moved the ghost runner to third. He escaped further damage with a pop fly from Mickey Moniak, but the Rockies had already done enough damage to seal the win.
On the bright side, Phillies fans saw incredible fight from this team—and a glimpse of a bright future in Justin Crawford. Sometimes, the best gear is the kind that helps you look good while you're battling back from the brink.