Arizona Diamondbacks Do Something Never Done Before On Opening Day in Rout of Rockies

The Arizona Diamondbacks put up a 14-run inning on Opening Day against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday night. That is the most runs ever scored in one inning on Opening Day.

Mar 8, 2024; Salt River Pima-Maricopa, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio / Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

The defending National League champion Arizona Diamondbacks pummeled the Colorado Rockies on Thursday night, winning 16-1 on Opening Day.

Arizona spent considerable resources this offseason to improve its offense, and it showed up in a big way at Chase Field. The team re-signed Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and traded for Eugenio Suarez over the winter and each of them registered big games.

Gurriel Jr. went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and five RBI, while Suarez was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Gurriel Jr. had a home run as well.

The most prominent part of the box score though was the fact that the D'Backs scored a whopping 14 runs in the third inning, which is the most runs ever in a single inning on Opening Day (since at least 1900).

Per Sarah Langs of MLB.com:

14 runs for AZ in the 3rd are tied for the 4th-most by a team in an inning since 1900, behind only:

6/18/1953 BOS, 7th: 17
4/19/1996 TEX, 8th: 16
5/21/1952 BRO, 1st: 15

it’s the most in an Opening Day frame in that span

h/t (@EliasSports)

14 runs for AZ in the 3rd are tied for the 4th-most by a team in an inning since 1900, behind only:

6/18/1953 BOS, 7th: 17
4/19/1996 TEX, 8th: 16
5/21/1952 BRO, 1st: 15

it’s the most in an Opening Day frame in that span

h/t @EliasSports https://t.co/9GGEFJN7nR

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) March 29, 2024

The Diamondbacks are certainly off to a great start in defending their National League pennant. They are going to need this type of offensive ability if they want to keep pace with the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres in a loaded National League West.

On the mound, Zac Gallen went 5.0 innings for the win. He walked two and struck out three.

The two teams play again on Friday night at 9:40 p.m. ET.

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