On the 23rd pitch of the first inning, a fan in the second-level seating caught a foul ball, bringing a loud cheer from the sellout crowd at Coors Field.

In what was a nightmare first inning, that was one of the very few things to cheer about early on and eventually for the entire day for Rockies fans.

The Philadelphia Phillies scored seven times in the top of the first, the most for any visiting team in the opening frame in Coors Field Opening Day history, to grab quick control on their way to a 10-1 win before 48,366 fans on a chilly, windy afternoon at 20th and Blake.

Michael Lorenzen, making his first home start in a Rockies uniform, gave up a leadoff double to Trea Turner, and the opening inning spiraled from there.

Lorenzen needed 44 pitches to get through the first inning, in which 10 Phillies came to the plate, tallying seven runs on six hits. Meanwhile, Phillies starter Aaron Nola threw 45 pitches to plow through his first three innings, striking out five of the first 10 Rockies he faced.

Nola struggled mightily on the road last season, going 0-6 with a 6.97 ERA in eight starts. On Friday, he held Colorado’s offense to just five hits over 6 1/3 innings, and only one of those went for extra bases, a second-inning double from Willi Castro. He also struck out nine during his 95-pitch performance.

While Lorenzen lasted just three innings, Valente Bellozo proved to be the hero of the game and the bullpen’s savior after Lorenzen’s departure, according to manager Warren Schaeffer.

Making his first appearance for the Rockies after being signed as a free agent this offseason, Bellozo was impressive, tossing six innings and allowing just one hit and one run, that coming on a solo home run by Kyle Schwarber in the fifth inning.

Colorado Rockies first baseman TJ Rumfield (7) waits for a throw from the outfield as Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Kyle Schwarber (12) runs by first during the Rockies home opener against the Philadelphia Phillies at Coors Field on Friday. The Rockies lost the game 10-1.

(Stephen Swofford, Denver Gazette)

Bellozo’s 77-pitch relief performance allowed the Rockies to use just one reliever in the blowout loss, a fact that could loom large with nine consecutive days facing the Phillies, Houston Astros and San Diego Padres beginning Saturday night.

“It’s beyond words how important that was for us,” Schaeffer said. “Bellozo saved our bullpen today in a big way, attacking the strike zone and being efficient with all of his pitches.

“Bellozo for sure, he was the hero of the game for us.”

Relying on his past experience as a starter and long reliever, Bellozo shrugged off the hero moniker that was placed on him just one day after joining the Rockies. Starting pitcher Jose Quintana was placed on the 15-day injured list.

“They called me up yesterday and I arrived here around 11 p.m. or midnight. My focus was only to help the team win games,” Bellozo said. “That’s always my mentality here. In spring training, I’d say the same thing.”

Bellozo said one of the keys to his success Friday was the connection he built with pitching coach Alon Leichman, who suggests Colorado’s pitches from the dugout, during the duo’s time together in Miami and now with the Rockies.

“We click really good. He likes to talk a lot and I like to talk a lot about pitches, about what we can do and what are the options,” Bellozo said. “We’re on the same page every time. Today, I shook a couple of times but everywhere else, we were fluid.”

While Bellozo may have found a rhythm on the mound, it’s clear the Rockies’ offense still is trying to find its footing early in the season.

Colorado struck out 15 times Friday while scoring just one run, marking the third time in the first seven games the Rockies have plated a single run. Friday was also the sixth time in seven games that Colorado has scored three or fewer runs.

“Nola’s a really good pitcher and he was really good today,” Schaeffer said. “He was painting away, getting us to chase the curveball, mixing well and just keeping us off balance in general. We have to be better. In terms of the 15 strikeouts, we have to be consistently better.”

After a forgettable Opening Day, Schaeffer was ready to turn the page.

“One bad inning and one game of 162,” Schaeffer said. “Don’t worry about it. It’s going to be better.”