Rockies Report, Game 1:
ROCKIES BOTTOM LINE: Attacking on the mound, attacking on the basepaths — the Rockies showed off their aggressive chops in their first regular-season game under new philosophy and new management Friday night at LoanDepot Park in Miami. But on this occasion, the dice rolls came up snake eyes.
Jake McCarthy was gunned down at home when trying to score from second base in the fourth inning one pitch after stealing second base and Jordan Beck was thrown out trying to steal second base in the seventh inning, dampening another potential rally. In a tight pitchers’ duel, such moments were all the difference in a 2-1 season-opening loss to the Miami Marlins.
“You’ve got Jake McCarthy’s speed, I think you try to score a lot on that ball,” manager Warren Schaeffer told media after the game of McCarthy being thrown out in the fourth.
Baserunners were at a premium against Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara, who squelched Colorado bats, limiting them to four hits and two walks over seven innings and 73 pitches.
The Rockies eked out their sole run after loading the bases following McCarthy being thrown out at home plate, with Jordan Beck driving home Willi Castro with a two-out infield single.
Colorado’s bullpen delivered 3 2/3 innings of scoreless bullpen work; Jimmy Herget, offseason pickup Brennan Bernardino and Juan Mejía combined to allow three hits. Mejía surrendered a leadoff double to Connor Norby in the eighth inning but stranded him at third, giving the Rox a prime chance for a ninth-inning rally.
ROCKIES STARTER’S REPORT
Unlike last year’s Opening Day start, when Freeland dazzled but was pulled after just 67 pitches, the 31-year-old veteran spent most of the evening working around trouble, laboring through 81 pitches before Herget relieved him one batter into the fifth inning.
Freeland escaped unscathed from a pair of first-inning walks, but had no such good fortune in the second inning as three-straight Marlins reached base. Xavier Edwards singled to center, then Owen Caissie brought him home with a double to the left-center-field gap. Five pitches later, Javier Sanoja drove a knuckle curve into left field to score Caissie and provide Miami all the offense it needed.
BITS AND PIECES
IT WAS DECIDED FOR THE ROCKIES WHEN: Brenton Doyle lined out to short with TJ Rumfield on first base in the bottom of the ninth, ending the Rox’ potential rally. Rumfield’s hit was the first of his career in his major-league debut.
TJ’s first career hit! pic.twitter.com/TOGz4YpI8K
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) March 28, 2026
NUMBER TO NOTE: 7 — Number of times Freeland fell behind in the count against 21 batters, as he followed up on the club’s edict to attack and hammer the strike zone — although the true test of this will come when the Rockies begin their first homestand next Friday. Overall, 12 of Freeland’s 21 first pitches caught the strike zone. Four of the eight baserunners allowed by Freeland came after his seven first-pitch balls.
“He attacked the strike zone; he got ahead,” Schaeffer said.
WHAT’S NEXT: Michael Lorenzen makes his first Rockies start in the second game of the series and the season. Eury Pérez gets the nod for Miami. First pitch is set for 12:10 p.m. MDT.
