Rockies look to bounce back vs. Phillies ace Nola

Brendan Rodgers went 0-for-4 in his major league debut Friday night in Philadelphia.

Getting his first big-league hit doesn't figure to get any easier on Saturday.

The Colorado Rockies threw their top prospect immediately into action on Friday, starting him at second base and batting him seventh shortly after he arrived following his promotion from Triple-A Albuquerque.

Rodgers nearly had a dream-come-true first at-bat, but his chopper that appeared headed for right field was cut off by Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins, who pivoted and threw to the plate in an effort to nail Raimel Tapia trying to score.

The speedy Tapia was called safe, a ruling that survived a replay challenge, giving Rodgers an RBI in his first at-bat, even though he was denied his first hit.

The No. 3 overall pick of the 2015 draft went on to fly out, pop out and strike out in his final three plate appearances, the latter coming as the last batter in a 5-4 loss.

On Saturday, he'll go up against Phillies ace Aaron Nola (3-0, 4.86 ERA).

Before Rodgers' debut, Rockies manager Bud Black explained why he was wasting no time getting his 22-year-old on the field.

"He played well (in the minors) and did a lot of the things that we talked about at the end of spring training," Black told reporters. "So I feel he's in a good spot to help us win."

If Rodgers learned anything in his first day in the bigs, it's that major league fans can be fickle.

Phillies fans booed their star, Bryce Harper, after he struck out in each of his first two at-bats in the game.

Harper responded with a two-run double that plated what turned out to be the winning run as the Phillies snapped a three-game losing streak in the series opener.

The high-profile free agent acquisition was back hitting third in the order after going 1-for-4 out of the No. 2 spot on Thursday in Philadelphia's 11-3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Phillies manager Gabe Kapler admitted he hadn't liked the look of three straight right-handed hitters behind Harper when he was moved up to second.

"I know Harper's comfortable (hitting third), and I know Segura is comfortable in the two spot," Kapler explained to the media before Friday's game. "So it felt like it was the right strategy."

In Nola, Rodgers will see a young right-hander who seems to have found his stride after four consecutive poor outings last month.

Nola has rebounded to allow a total of just six runs in his last four starts over a span of 21 1/3 innings.

The former first-round draft pick has faced the Rockies three times in his career, going 2-0 with a 2.79 ERA.

Meanwhile, Harper and his mates will take their cracks at Colorado starter Antonio Senzatela (3-2, 5.35 ERA). The right-hander saved his best pitching for the road this season, where he is 2-0 with a 3.31 ERA.

The 24-year-old has gone head-to-head with the Phillies three times in his career, twice as a starter, recording an 0-1 record and a 4.97 ERA.

--Field Level Media

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