As the media herded into the visiting manager’s office at Citizen’s Bank Ballpark on Thursday afternoon, Rockies manager Bud Black poured over the game recap at his desk. His papers were split by a tall Coors Light, its mountains blue.
He was detailed in his analysis of why the Phillies’ Vince Velasquez, rocked by the Brewers for 10 runs in 3.2 innings in his last start, was able to no-hit the Rockies for six-plus innings as Colorado lost for the sixth time in seven games. He was frank about the decisive inning, in which starter German Marquez loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh and relievers Jake McGee and Jeff Hoffman combined to yield four inherited runs from there — the latest pitching breakdown for a team in free-fall.