Colorado ace Jeff Francis dazzled the Phillies' top 4 hitters as the Rockies won 4-2 today, taking a 1-0 division series lead. Philly's quartet of Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, Chase Utley, and Ryan Howard fizzled with a collective 0-15 and 9 strikeouts. Utley put up 4 Ks all by himself, the Rocky Mountain News reports.
The Rockies scored 3 in the 2nd off of lefty Cole Hamels, then survived back-to-back solo homers by Aaron Rowand and Pat Burrell in the 5th. Matt Holiday's solo dinger in the 8th added an insurance run before 3 relievers kept the Phillies' bats quiet over the last three frames. Colorado and Philly will tee off again tomorrow at Citizens Bank Park before heading to Coors on Saturday.