The Diamondbacks rode a record-breaking 3rd inning to blow out the Rockies on Opening Day, 16-1. In that inning, the D-backs sent 18 players to the plate, scoring 14 runs on 13 hits, all franchise records. The 15-run margin of victory is tied for the third highest in major league history in their first game of the season, trailing the 1890 Buffalo Bisons and 1955 New York Yankees.
Arizona jumped Rockies starter Kyle Freeland (0-1) in the 1st and never looked back. Ketel Marte singled to lead off the game, then Lourdes Gurriel Jr. launched a towering two-run home run that put the D-backs up 2-0.
Gurriel finished the game with three hits and five RBI, the most in franchise history on Opening Day. The Rockies answered with a run in the second, but Suarez kept them to one run thanks to his leaping catch to end the second. That proved to be a big play, as that happened right before the 3rd inning barrage.
Zac Gallen (1-0) wasn’t sharp on the mound but completed the necessary five innings to get the win. The D-backs ace didn’t have his trademark command, walking two batters, but struck out three and challenged hitters when he needed to get outs. The defense picked him up with some timely defensive plays, keeping the Rockies from putting up crooked numbers. Eugenio Suarez, Christian Walker, and Alek Thomas each made an impressive catch with a runner on base to snuff out potential Colorado rallies.
Blaze Alexander, who became the third ever Diamondback to make his major league debut and start on Opening Day, collected the first two hits of his career. His first hit, and RBI, capped off the 14-run inning. He was one of eight players in the lineup who finished with multiple hits, making it the 4th time in MLB history that happened.