{"id":648483,"date":"2026-03-28T11:43:31","date_gmt":"2026-03-28T11:43:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/648483\/"},"modified":"2026-03-28T11:43:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-28T11:43:31","slug":"rockies-silenced-by-marlins-ace-drop-season-opener-denver-sports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/648483\/","title":{"rendered":"Rockies silenced by Marlins’ ace, drop season opener \u2013 Denver Sports"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rockies Report, Game 1:<\/p>\n

ROCKIES BOTTOM LINE: Attacking on the mound, attacking on the basepaths \u2014 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019 duel, such moments were all the difference in a 2-1 season-opening loss<\/a> to the Miami Marlins.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got Jake McCarthy\u2019s speed, I think you try to score a lot on that ball,\u201d manager Warren Schaeffer told media after the game of McCarthy being thrown out in the fourth.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Colorado\u2019s bullpen delivered 3 2\/3 innings of scoreless bullpen work; Jimmy Herget, offseason pickup Brennan Bernardino and Juan Mej\u00eda combined to allow three hits. Mej\u00eda 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.<\/p>\n

ROCKIES STARTER\u2019S REPORT<\/p>\n

Unlike last year\u2019s Opening Day start<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

BITS AND PIECES<\/p>\n

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\u2019 potential rally. Rumfield\u2019s hit was the first of his career in his major-league debut.<\/p>\n

TJ’s first career hit! pic.twitter.com\/TOGz4YpI8K<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) March 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

NUMBER TO NOTE: 7 \u2014 Number of times Freeland fell behind in the count against 21 batters, as he followed up on the club\u2019s edict to attack and hammer the strike zone \u2014 although the true test of this will come when the Rockies begin their first homestand next Friday. Overall, 12 of Freeland\u2019s 21 first pitches caught the strike zone. Four of the eight baserunners allowed by Freeland came after his seven first-pitch balls.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe attacked the strike zone; he got ahead,\u201d Schaeffer said.<\/p>\n

WHAT\u2019S NEXT: Michael Lorenzen makes his first Rockies start in the second game of the series and the season. Eury P\u00e9rez gets the nod for Miami. First pitch is set for 12:10 p.m. MDT.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Follow @MaseDenver<\/a><\/p>\n

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