By Rocky Mountain Voice
The tradition of Opening Day will be a historical one for the Colorado Rockies in 2024, just not a memorable one.
The Arizona Diamondbacks scored 14 runs in a third-inning offensive onslaught Thursday night and by then the Rockies trailed 16-1.
It marks the worst single inning in franchise history in terms of most hits, runs and batters allowed, the Associated Press reported. The 14 runs are the most in an inning on Opening Day for any team since 1900, more than a century, according to Elias Sports.
The D-backs sent 18 batters to the plate and had 13 hits, two walks and one sacrifice fly, the Associated Press reports. The Rockies used three pitchers in the inning; Kyle Freeland, Anthony Molina and Jalen Beeks.
While no one homered in the 14-run outburst, the D-backs had five players with two hits in the inning, and a sixth with two walks.
Also since 1900, only four teams have scored more than 14 runs, the Associated Press noted. Those teams were: the Red Sox with 17 in 1953, the Rangers with 16 in 1996, and the 1952 Brooklyn Dodgers with 15.
The Rockies never led in the game, but after a 2-run first inning for the D-backs, the Rockies responded with a run in the second inning. Then came the history-making 14-run third inning. Adding to the misery, the Rockies were held to four hits in the opener.
Kyle Freeland took the loss with 10 hits and 10 earned runs in 2.1 innings of work, giving him a 38.57 ERA.