The Arizona Diamondbacks kicked off the 2024 season with a 4-game series win against the Colorado Rockies. It’s their first season-opening series win since 2018. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is on fire to start his season, batting .471 with three home runs and ten RBIs with a 1.644 OPS. Gurriel is the first Diamondbacks player to hit a home run in each of the first three games of a season.
Game 1: Opening Day 3/28 (COL 1 ARI 16)
D-Backs Fans couldn’t have asked for a better start to the season. Zac Gallen got the W and pitched 5.0 innings, only giving up one run on three hits and had three strikeouts. The offense exploded in the 3rd inning, scoring 14 runs in this one inning. This set the record for the most runs a team has scored in one inning on opening day, and they did it all without hitting a home run. They hit ten singles, four doubles, and walked twice.
Rockies starter Kyle Freeland surrendered ten runs on ten hits in 2.1 innings before being replaced by Anthony Molina, who allowed six runs on six hits and only recorded one out. It’s safe to say that the Rockies ace will want to put this performance behind him and gear up for his next outing at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs. Freeland currently holds a 38.57 ERA and a 4.71 WHIP.
Game 2: 3/29 (COL 3 ARI 7)
The D-Backs offense picked up where they left off from opening day. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Christian Walker hit back-to-back, two-out homers in the first inning off Rockies starter Cal Quantrill. Alek Thomas joined the party with a 3-run homer in the 6th off of Rockies’ Jake Bird. The Snakes combined for 14 hits and scored seven runs total. The newly acquired Joc Pederson went 4-4 with an RBI and one run scored.
Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly was dominant in his outing, easily handling the Rockies across 6 2/3 innings. He punched out eight and allowed only three hits and one run on an Elías Díaz solo homer. The Rockies’ other two runs came from an RBI triple from Charlie Blackmon, who then scored from 3rd on a wild pitch from D-Backs pitcher Ryan Thompson.
Game 3: 3/30 (COL 9 ARI 4)
Colorado picked up their first win of the season, backed by a great performance by Charlie Blackmon. The veteran had two hits and two RBIs and scored one run. The two Rockies youngsters Brenton Doyle and Ezequiel Tovar made a splash as they each hit a 2-run home run. Starting pitcher Austin Gomber gave up four runs on six hits with three strikeouts over 4.2 innings.
Henry gave up a respectable two runs in his first four innings before going into the fifth inning and losing his nerve. In that inning, the Rockies got their first three batters on base to go after Henry, and all three crossed the plate to tarnish the lefty’s final stat line. Eduardo Rodriguez’s lat injury sent him to the injured list, which gave Henry a spot in the rotation. However, Henry will probably need to improve his game when Rodriguez returns to the mound or when Jordan Montgomery, whom the Diamondbacks signed on March 26, is ready to play for the major league team.
Game 4: 3/31 (COL 1 ARI 5)
Before the game started, Christian Walker and Gabriel Moreno received their 2023 Rawlings Gold Gloves. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. continued his sizzling start to the season, driving in a pair of runs, while Christian Walker belted a two-run homer. Starting pitcher Brandon Pfaadt was excellent in his season debut, allowing just one run on five hits over 5.0 innings of work. Scott McGough, Ryan Thompson, and Kevin Ginkel were outstanding out of the bullpen to get the win for Pfaadt and secure the series win.
Up Next: New York Yankees 4/1-4/3
The New York Yankees are making their way to Chase Field for the first time since the 2019 season, and the fourth time since the 2001 World Series.
Probable Starters:
(4/1) NYY – Luis Gil vs. ARI – Ryne Nelson
(4/2) NYY – Nestor Cortes vs. ARI – Zac Gallen
4/3) NYY – Carlos Rodon vs. ARI – Merrill Kelly
