Phils Fall to Rockies in Hurdle's Managerial Debut

DENVER -- Clint Hurdle probably shouldn't get used to this.

Hours after replacing Buddy Bell as manager, Hurdle watched John Thomson work into the eighth inning as the Colorado Rockies posted a 4-1 victory over the struggling Philadelphia Phillies.

Off to the worst start in club history (7-16) and mired in a five-game losing streak, the Rockies moved in a new direction earlier Friday, firing Bell and naming Hurdle, the club's hitting coach, interim manager

"Today is not a euphoric day by any means, it's a bittersweet day because a good baseball man is out of job -- temporarily," Hurdle said.

Hurdle had to be thrilled with a rare quality effort from one of the Rockies' starters as Thomson (3-2) came through with his best outing of the season.

Thomson went 7 1/3 innings, limiting the Phillies to one run and seven hits, striking out eight without a walk.

"It's a confidence builder to go into my next start," Thomson said. "I was walking out of the bullpen and I had a smile on my face. It had nothing to do with anything that happened today. But lately I had been feeling like I did in `97 and `98 thinking that I have to win instead of thinking that if I win, I win and if I don't, I don't. I just gave it 100 percent. I complicate myself when I think about it too much. I just have to trust my abilities."

Rick White got the the final two outs of the eighth and Jose Jimenez worked a perfect ninth with two strikeouts for his fifth save.

Phillies starter Terry Adams (0-3) remained winless after allowing two runs and eight hits in six innings. The righthander walked four and struck out seven.

The Rockies got Hurdle off to a good start, breaking on top in the opening inning.

Juan Pierre drew a leadoff walk and Juan Uribe doubled. After striking out Larry Walker, Adams issued an intentional walk to Todd Helton.

But Todd Zeile spoiled the strategy with an RBI single. Todd Hollandsworth followed by reaching on an infield hit to make it 2-0.

"I walked the leadoff guy, and when you do things like that it's going to cost you," Adams said. "I mean you walk guys in this ballpark and it's gonna cost you. You have to really pitch solid and not give free bases, make them earn their way on or you're going to give up some runs."

Given the early lead to work with, Thomson made it stand up, cruising through the first four innings as he allowed only a single to go along with six strikeouts.

Thomson ran into trouble in the fifth after Mike Lieberthal led off with a single and Travis Lee reached on an error by third baseman Zeile.

Thomson was able to work his way out of it, getting Pat Burell and Marlon Anderson to fly out before striking out Adams to end the inning.

"I felt pretty good about my fastball today," Thomson said. "It was going well both in and out, and I had a pretty good sinker today."

In the seventh, the Phillies squandered another scoring opportunity. After putting runners in first and third with one out, Burrell struck out and Anderson grounded out.

"We just haven't been doing it (driving in runs at the right time)," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said. "It's been one of many Achilles heels."

A wild pitch by rookie Carlos Silva in the bottom of the inning allowed Helton to score and give Colorado a 3-0 lead.

The Phillies finally got on the board with one out in the eighth on an RBI triple by rookie Jason Michaels. Looking to get closer, the Phillies' were on the wrong side of a good defensive play when Scott Rolen flied to shallow right field. Walker gunned down Michaels at the plate to end the inning.

A run-scoring single by Uribe in the bottom of the inning gave the Rockies the final margin.

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