Diamondbacks Take Down the Rockies for Series Victory

The D-backs put up another crooked number in the first, then rode a solid start from Brandon Pfaadt to cruise to a 5-1 win.

Mar 31, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Brandon Pfaadt (32) pitches against the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field. / Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The Diamondbacks defeated the Colorado Rockies 5-1 at Chase Field, taking three of four in the season's opening series. In sharp contrast to last night's loss, the team played crisp defense, made some key pitches, and capitalized on Rockies defensive miscues to take control of the game.

For the fourth time in as many games, they put up a crooked number in the first to establish an early lead. Corbin Carroll led off the game with an eight-pitch walk, then advanced to third on a stolen base and a throwing error. Lourdes Gurriel once again put the D-backs on the board with a sharply-hit single to center. After Gurriel stole second, which required a challenge to overturn an "out" call, Christian Walker crushed the next pitch into the left field stands to put them up 3-0.

"We talk about making sure we're ready," said D-backs manager Torey Lovullo. "An uncommon team doesn't wait for the game to play out and see what's going on and finesse your way through the first couple innings. An uncommon team goes out there and they're ready at 6:40, or 12:40, or 1:10, whatever time we're starting the ballgame. I'm extremely pleased by that, we're going out there and scoring early runs."

The early lead allowed right-hander Brandon Pfaadt to settle in. Picking up right where he left off from the postseason, Pfaadt cruised through the first four innings and struck out six. He was constantly working ahead in the count, throwing 18 of 21 first-pitch strikes. He ran into some trouble in the fifth, as four of the first five Rockies reached base and set up a potentially big inning. The right-hander battled back and made the necessary pitches to finish the inning with just one run scoring, retiring Nolan Jones on a pop-up in one pitch and getting Elehuris Montero to bounce out to short. It showed an area of growth for the 25-year-old right-hander, who might not have escaped those situations last season.

"I think he dug in as deep as he possibly could, and that experience that he had last year I'm sure was running through his mind that he's done this before and he's ready for this opportunity. Brandon did a great job. He held this team in check, allowed us to play downhill baseball, secure the lead, and walk off the mound with a win. That's what we want our starting pitchers to do."

The D-backs wasted no time seizing control of the game, doing so in the bottom half of the frame. Tucker Barnhart drew a leadoff walk, then stole second. After it looked like they would squander another scoring opportunity, they got a gift when Jones dropped what should have been the third out of the inning. Not only did Barnhart score on the play, it put Ketel Marte in scoring position for the team's hottest hitter in the series. Two pitches later, Gurriel promptly smoked a Ryan Feltner fastball into the left field corner to make it 5-1. He finished the series with 10 RBI, the most in franchise history over the first four games of the season.

The D-backs would not get get out of this game completely unscathed. Center fielder Alek Thomas hit into an inning-ending double play in the first, then grabbed his left hamstring afterward. He stayed in for two more innings, then was pulled from the game. Later in the game, the D-backs announced Thomas had "left hamstring tightness", which was confirmed by Lovullo postgame. The plan is to continue to evaluate him tonight, get imaging done on his left hamstring Monday, and then decide what to do next.

The D-backs will face a tough challenge this week when the New York Yankees roll into Chase Field for a three-game series. The Yankees are coming off a four-game sweep of the Houston Astros, with Juan Soto and Oswaldo Cabrera swinging hot bats. It will be up to right-hander Ryne Nelson to slow them down, as he'll face off against Luis Gil in Game 1 of the series tomorrow. First pitch will be at 6:40 PM MST.