The Colorado Rockies prepared for their first Spring Training game at the Salt River Fields at Talking Sticks yesterday afternoon. Their opponent was last season’s National League champions and divisional rival, the Arizona Diamondbacks. Even with us not seeing every Rockies starter appear in the lineup, the team could still pick up a 3-0 victory against one of their biggest foes. Today, we’ll see two Rockies squads square off respectively against the Oakland Athletics at 3:05 EST and the Arizona Diamondbacks at 3:10 EST. If both Colorado teams win today, we’ll see the Rockies’ Spring Training record jump to 3-0. Let’s take a look into how the Rockies obtain this big-time win.
Rockies Win 3-0 Against the D-Backs
With seven Rockies pitchers being used, Colorado could strike out 16 batters altogether. Carson Palmquist started for the Rockies, and in two innings, he allowed just one hit and a walk while striking out four batters. In the game’s first at-bat, Palmquist allowed a single by Ketel Marte, then eventually walked Joc Pederson. Jeff Criswell came in to pitch the whole third inning and recorded two outs during the fourth inning before Chance Adams came to the mound. Criswell allowed just one hit and two walks while striking out three batters on the mound.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Rockies designated hitter Elehuris Montero scored the game’s first run. He did this by smashing a 449-foot solo home run to left field on a 1-0 count. An inning later, with runners on first and second, Rockies catcher Drew Romo ripped a single into the right field gap, allowing his teammate shortstop Alan Trejo to score. Chance Adams pitched one and one-third innings, allowing one hit while striking out two batters. He was replaced by Evan Justice, who allowed one hit with two strikeouts but only through one whole inning.
Palmquist Should be This Matchup’s Player of the Game
Matt Koch, Riley Pint, and Gavin Hollowell combined to pitch the last three innings. The three of them combined allowed just one hit with five strikeouts. Colorado’s final run came in the bottom of the seventh inning. Outfielder Jordan Beck smashed a double to let his teammate first baseman Grant Lavigne score. The Rockies would win this first Spring Training game of the 2024 season 3-0—seven Rockies pitchers combined to give up five hits in a big-time victory. Colorado scored three runs on seven hits while committing a fielding error.
Carson Palmquist should be this matchup’s Player of the Game after a strong, incredible start against last year’s National League Pennant champions. Palmquist two innings of pitching were superb, as he allowed just one hit with four strikeouts, the most strikeouts of any Rockies pitcher for the day. Besides a leadoff single from Ketel Marte, Carson could pitch the game he wanted to and could show off the potential of this 2024 Rockies team.
Main Photo Credits: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
