In a chilly yet electrifying atmosphere at Citizens Bank Park, the Philadelphia Phillies secured a solid 5-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies on April 2, 2025. Despite the rain that sent some fans scurrying for cover, the die-hard supporters remained, using the Opening Night t-shirts handed out as rally towels to cheer on their team. The Phillies' strong pitching and timely hitting led to their second consecutive series win to open the season.
Edmundo Sosa emerged as the star of the night, further solidifying his role on the team. With Trea Turner sidelined due to back spasms from the opening day game, Sosa has seized his opportunity, and he did not disappoint. He delivered a two-run double in the eighth inning that extended the Phillies' lead from 3-1 to 5-1, showcasing his impressive form early in the season. Sosa finished the game with three hits, two RBIs, and a run scored, bringing his batting average to an outstanding .600 through four games, with nine hits and four doubles to his name.
Manager Rob Thomson, impressed with Sosa’s performance, humorously remarked, "I’m gonna call MLB and see if we can play 10 [players]." This comment reflects the depth of talent the Phillies are beginning to see as the season progresses. However, Thomson also noted that playing Sosa in the outfield may not be feasible with a right-hander on the mound in the upcoming game.
On the mound, Zack Wheeler was nothing short of spectacular. The ace pitched seven innings, allowing just one run on a solo home run by Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman in the seventh. Wheeler struck out 10 batters, marking his first win of the season and his 26th double-digit strikeout game overall. With a total of 105 pitches thrown, he displayed remarkable control, not issuing a single walk throughout the game. This performance adds to his already impressive start to the season, having given up only two runs in 13 innings pitched so far.
The Rockies' Kyle Freeland, despite being charged with three runs over 6.2 innings, showcased resilience on the mound. He struck out three batters and managed to escape a bases-loaded situation in the fifth inning, where he struck out Bryce Harper, Alec Bohm, and Kyle Schwarber— a feat that left him visibly emotional as he exited the field. Freeland’s strong showing was indicative of the Rockies' pitching depth, even if the offense struggled to support him.
The Phillies took an early lead in the fourth inning, thanks to a combination of solid hitting and a bit of luck. Alec Bohm led off with a single, followed by Kyle Schwarber’s RBI double, which brought Bohm home. J.T. Realmuto then added to the score with a swinging bunt that caught the Rockies off guard, allowing Schwarber to score and putting the Phillies up 2-0.
However, the fifth inning presented a missed opportunity for the Phillies. After loading the bases with no outs, the heart of their lineup—Harper, Bohm, and Schwarber—failed to capitalize, striking out in succession. It was a rare and demoralizing moment for the team, but Thomson remained optimistic, stating, "Just keep going, you know—if you get runners on base, like we did, you’re gonna score. You’re gonna run into innings like that every once in a while, but you just gotta keep getting runners on base. And if you do that, you’re gonna score runs."
Johan Rojas also had a noteworthy performance, going 2-for-2 with two singles, a walk, a sacrifice bunt, and a stolen base. Thomson praised Rojas, saying, "This was the best Major League game he’s played, in my opinion, because that’s exactly what he needs to do. He needs to move runners, put the ball in play, sacrifice, play good defense. You know, he just really played well." Rojas's contributions were vital in maintaining pressure on the Rockies throughout the game.
As the game progressed, the Phillies continued to build their lead. After Goodman’s solo homer, Sosa’s two-run double in the eighth capped off the scoring, ensuring a comfortable win for Philadelphia. The Phillies’ offense has shown a trend of navigating starting pitchers effectively, but struggling against relief pitchers, as they have scored 24 runs against bullpens in just 14 innings this season, compared to only five runs against starting pitchers over 30 innings.
Looking ahead, the Phillies will face the Rockies once again on April 3, 2025, in hopes of completing a three-game sweep. The matchup will feature Rockies RHP Antonio Senzatela against Phillies RHP Taijuan Walker. With the momentum from this victory, the Phillies will aim to continue their strong start to the season as they prepare to welcome the defending World Series Champion Dodgers for a weekend series.
The Rockies, on the other hand, will need to address their offensive struggles, having struck out 14 times in this game alone, bringing their season total to 58 over five games with a staggering strikeout rate of 32.9%. Manager Bud Black acknowledged the team's challenges at the plate, stating, "Wheeler is really good. As a group, we are not swinging the bats great." With the pressure mounting, the Rockies will seek to bounce back and find their rhythm in the upcoming game.
