Kuhl leads Rockies over Phillies 4-1, leaves with injury

Updated Apr. 18, 2022 11:59 p.m. ET

Associated Press

DENVER (AP) — Chad Kuhl pitched six scoreless innings during his home debut with the Rockies before leaving with what appeared to be a cut near the middle finger of his pitching hand, and Charlie Blackmon hit a go-ahead home run to lead Colorado over the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 on Monday night.

Kuhl (1-0) allowed a pair of singles, struck out four and walked one, throwing 42 of 68 pitches for strikes.

He went to the mound to warm up for the seventh but didn't start the inning. Rockies manager Bud Black and assistant athletic trainer Heath Townsend went to the mound. Following a lengthy discussion, Kuhl went to the dugout and Tyler Kinley relieved with a 2-0 lead.

Sam Hilliard and C.J. Cron had two hits apiece, Kinley worked a perfect seventh and Alex Colome allowed a two-out walk in a hitless ninth for his first Rockies save.

Aaron Nola (1-2) took a shutout into the sixth before Blackmon led off with his first home run tis season. Nola left after a one-out single by Cron, who came around to score on a groundout and two wild pitche José Alvarado.

Randal Grichuk made it 4-0 with a two-out, two-run double off James Norwood in the seventh.

Pinch-hitter Didi Gregorius doubled in a run off Carlos Estévez in the eighth. Philadelphia had runners on second and third with one out when J.T. Realmuto lined to reliever Jhoulys Chacín, who doubled up Gregorious at second.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Phillies: Bryce Harper will serve as the designated hitter in the three-game series, manager Joe Girardi said. Harper, who went 1 for 4 with two strikeouts, is dealing with a sore right elbow that bothers him when he throws but not when he swings a bat. ... Odúbel Herrera (right oblique strain) is in Triple-A Lehigh on a rehab assignment.

Rockies: Black said before the game RHP Robert Stephenson and LHP Lucas Gilbreath could both be activated from the COVID-19 injured list. Both pitchers were on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Albuquerque this weekend.

UP NEXT

Philadelphia RHP Kyle Gibson (1-1, 3.09 ERA) will face Colorado LHP Kyle Freeland (0-2, 10.00) in the second of a three-game set Tuesday.

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