Phillies vs Rockies: Live updates, analysis from home opener at Citizens Bank Park

PHILADELPHIA — Hunter Goodman’s one-out sixth-inning homer has inched Colorado ahead of the Phillies 1-0 in the home opener at Citizens Bank Park today.

Goodman’s homer chased Phillies starter Cristopher Sanchez, who, nonetheless, had a strong first start of the season before an appreciative sellout crowd of 44,595.

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Sanchez allowed four hits, walked two and struck out seven before Orion Kerkering came in from the bullpen after Goodman’s center-field blast.

Scoreless through 5

So far it’s a pitchers’ duel. The Phillies and Rockies were scoreless through five innings at Citizens Bank Park.

Sanchez pitched out of second-inning trouble by getting an inning-ending strikeout with runners on second and third.

Sanchez then injured himself running off the mound on Jordan Beck’s two-out infield single in the fifth and took a practice pitch under watchful eyes without trouble. Brenton Doyle then singled but Ezequiel Tovar’s flyout ended the threat,

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New Phillie Max Kepler had his team’s first hit off Colorado starter German Marquez, a second-inning double, before Alec Bohm led off the fourth with a single. Neither advanced any farther though.

The Phillies threatened again in the fifth, which opened with Nick Castellanos’ infield single. He moved to third on Edmondo Sosa’s two-out double but Kyle Schwarber struck out flailing.

Sanchez brings unique improvement to the mound

Having been a baseball coach and manager since 1988, Rob Thomson has seen a lot.

But the Phillies’ skipper singled out starting pitcher Sanchez for his unique transformation before Monday’s home opener against the Colorado Rockies at Citizens Bark Park.

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The lefty’s development from a hard-throwing pitcher who lacked command to a 2024 National League All-Star possessing both is unprecedented, Thomson suggested before the game.

“I’ve talked about it many times, how far this kid’s come in the last four or five years,” Thomson said.

“When I first saw him, when we first got him from Tampa Bay, he always had a big arm. But he couldn’t command the ball, couldn’t even control the ball. The evolution started to happen where the velocity came down but the command went up. Now the velocity is going back up. It’s pretty interesting. I don’t think I’ve seen that type of evolution before.”

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The 28-year-old Dominican was signed by Tampa Bay as a teen-ager in 2013 and dealt to the Phillies in 2019. He was 11-9 with a 3.32 ERA in 31 starts last year. Sanchez was 10^th in the Cy Young Award voting and signed a potentially team-friendly four-year $22.5 million extension.

Sanchez had a 1.62 ERA in 16 2/3 spring innings, fueling excitement about what he could do in 2025.

“He’s now at a point where he’s the combination of power and command, much like [Zack] Wheeler is,” Thomson said. “When you have that, you’re in pretty good shape. Plus, he’s got the swing-and-miss pitch with his changeup. The slider’s really coming along. The poise, maturity, he’s really grown.”

Turner still out

Trea Turner is not in the starting lineup for the Phillies’ 2025 home opener today.

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Turner is still nursing back spasms that kept him out of games Saturday and Sunday in Washington. Edmundo Sosa is playing shortstop and batting ninth for the Phillies.

Turner could be possibly used off the bench, however, Thomson said.

Catcher J.T. Realmuto is back in the lineup after missing Sunday’s game with a bruised foot.

The Phillies and Colorado Rockies play at 3:05 p.m. at Citizens Bank Park (NBC 10/NBC Sports Philly Plus).

Check here throughout the day for our live updates and analysis:

Phillies lineup vs Rockies

Cristopher Sanchez is the Phillies’ starting pitcher. Here is the Phillies’ batting order to face Rockies starter German Marquez:

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Kyle Schwarber DH

Alec Bohm 3B

Bryce Harper 1B

J.T. Realmuto C

Max Kepler LF

Nick Castellanos RF

Bryson Stott 2B

Brandon Marsh CF

Edmundo Sosa SS