The Colorado Rockies were unable to avoid the sweep in their Opening Weekend series against the Miami Marlins. The Fish walked off the Rockies on a two-run home run, cementing an 0-3 record to kick off the 2026 campaign with three straight one-run losses.
Unable to capitalize
The Rockies struck first, when Jordan Beck hit a bases-loaded and bases-clearing double in the first inning to put the Rockies up by three.
Those would be the only runs the Rockies would score for the rest of the game. Striking out a whopping 11 times—with
four hitters being punched out at least twice — the Rockies finished the series with 30 total strikeouts.
The Rockies had multiple opportunities to score more runs throughout the game. They drew two walks and had six hits in total. In the top of the seventh, the Rockies had both Jake McCarthy and Kyle Karros on base with no outs, only to come up empty. They then went down in order with two strikeouts in both the eighth and ninth innings.
Overall, the Rockies were just 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
A solid debut for José Quintana
Like Kyle Freeland and Michael Lorenzen before him, Rockies starting pitcher José Quintana went for 4 1/3 innings in his season debut. Quintana, signed this off-season on a one-year, $6 million contract, held the Marlins to two earned runs during his start despite not having his best stuff. He nibbled the strike zone and struggled somewhat with command, walking four batters and giving up four hits. He threw 78 total pitches, 42 for strikes. It took more than 50 pitches for Quintana to make it through the first two innings of the game. However, he made much quicker work of the third and fourth frames.
One mistake from the bullpen is the Rockies’ undoing
With a runner on and one out in the fifth inning, Quintana gave way to Jimmy Herget for his second appearance of the young season. “The Human Glitch” quickly dialed up back-to-back strikeouts on eight pitches to end the inning.
Following Herget, starter-turned-long reliever Antonio Senzatela took the mound for his first appearance of the year. Senzatela was incredibly sharp during his first two innings. He set down all six batters in order with three strikeouts. His fastball was clocking near 99 MPH and his pitches were showing good shape and movement compared to previous seasons. Senzatela recorded the first two outs in the eighth inning but did allow a walk and a single before being pulled for Victor Vodnik.
Vodnik—looking for the four-out save—was charged with hitting the first batter he saw even though the ball hit the knob of the bat and not the batter himself. He quickly struck out the next hitter on three well-placed pitches, including a 94.4 MPH changeup and a 99.7 MPH four-seam fastball.
In the bottom of the ninth inning Vodnik gave up a ground ball single to Xavier Edwards only for Liam Hicks to line into an unassisted double play via the glove of Rockies first baseman Troy Johnston. With two outs, the save—and the Rockies’ first win of the season—was in sight. However, Vodnik gave up a double to Javier Sonoja and then left a changeup hanging middle-middle to Owen Cassie, who sent the ball over the outfield wall for a walk-off home run.
Coming Up Next
The Rockies will continue their season opening road trip tomorrow evening with a trip to visit the defending American League Champion Toronto Blue Jays. Right-handed veteran Tomoyuki Sugano will make his season debut for Colorado while the right-handed Cody Ponce will toe the rubber for the Blue Jays. First pitch is at 5:07 PM MDT.
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