Bryant day to day after painful swing prompts exit

PHILADELPHIA -- Kris Bryant and Nick Castellanos were two of the top outfielders in a loaded free agent class two offseasons ago.

To sign Bryant, the Rockies outbid several teams, including the Phillies, who were looking to reunite the Las Vegas native with his childhood friend, Bryce Harper. Four days later, Philadelphia settled on Castellanos as a consolation prize.

On Saturday afternoon, a 4-3 loss to the Phillies at a windy Citizens Bank Park, both players delivered bad news for the Rockies.

Castellanos hit two home runs off an otherwise solid Kyle Freeland, including the eventual game-winner in the sixth inning. Bryant struck out in his first at-bat and then exited the game grimacing with an apparent injury.

Manager Bud Black said Bryant’s lower body pain was “a day-to-day thing,” unrelated to any previous back injury. Bryant’s back cost him two trips to the injured list last season.

“He had some good swings, but his swing was compromised a little bit,” Black said. “When he put his foot down and landed there was some pain in his [sacroiliac] joint and his glute. There was a little bit of sharp pain. Nothing to do with the back.”

An extended injury to Bryant would be a blow for the Rockies (6-16), who have lost 10 of their last 11 games. One bright spot has been Bryant, who began the season healthy after playing in just 42 games during his first season in Denver. He ranks second on the team in batting average (.288) and, more importantly, games played (21).

Elehuris Montero struck out pinch-hitting for Bryant in the third. Mike Moustakas became the Rockies’ third designated hitter in five innings when he tied the game at 3 with a sacrifice fly in the fifth. It was his third pinch-hit RBI of the year.

One inning later, Castellanos lofted a 1-2 slider over the left-field fence to give the Phillies the lead for good. The slider was breaking in, where Freeland wanted it. Castellanos was able to reach down and put it in the air where the swirling wind -- a reminder of the coming storm that pushed the game’s start time up by an hour -- helped it get over the wall.

“They were well struck,” Black said. “I thought the second one by Castellanos might have been a little wind-aided. He hit it pretty good, but again to get it up in the wind, it seemed like the ball was carrying. I don’t want to take anything away from him, but it looked like it was blowing out.”

Despite the home runs, Freeland bounced back from his worst start of the season by striking out six and allowing four runs on five hits and one walk.

“Myself and [Elias] Díaz were on the same page all day,” Freeland said. “Getting ahead of guys all day. Pounding the zone. Overall, location, stuff-wise, it was a good day. Minus them being able to put the ball in the air.”

Freeland’s only other mistake pitch came in the third, when Cristian Pache crushed a 1-1 sinker to left-center to give the Phillies a 3-1 lead.

“I think Kyle would like to have that pitch back,” Black said. “That was just a little bit up and little in the middle.”

The three home runs allowed matched Freeland’s total for his previous four starts combined.

“All three were executed well,” Freeland said. “The pitches were where I wanted them. Good pitches in those counts. The wind helped, I’m sure a little bit. But at the same time, they were able to fire off some pretty good swings to lift it in the air and let that wind help it out.”

Even in the face of another loss, the cloudy afternoon came with a few silver linings for the Rockies. For one, Bryant’s injury may not be as serious as it looked.

“We just need it to calm down,” Black said.

Freeland did what he needed to do.

“He competed hard,” Black said. “He was fine today. He’s thrown the ball well all year for me.”

And Daniel Bard continued his comeback, striking out two in a scoreless seventh inning to keep the Rockies down by one. Black praised Bard for battling back after falling behind in the count several times.

“It was good to see,” Black said. “He seems to be in a good spot mentally and physically.”