Home, Sweet Home -- Rockies Win Home Opener

It wasn’t pretty.

But it was memorable.

After a season-opening road trip that took the Rockies first to Arizona, where they managed to salvage just one of four games, and then to Chicago, where the Cubs swept the three-game series, the Rockies had a chance to catch their breath thanks to having Thursday off.

And they came out in their home opener against Tampa Bay on Friday afternoon to give the crowd of 48,399 something to celebrate.

The Rockies overcame a 2-1 deficit with a three-run rally in the bottom of the sixth, and then, after seeing the Rays put together a five-run rally in the top of the ninth, the Rockies answered with a four-run response in the bottom of the ninth for a 10-7 victory.

It wasn’t necessarily a work of art, but the Rockies did answer the challenge laid out by the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Rockies answer the initial challenge of the visiting team with a three-run sixth inning to claim a 4-2 edge, and then after seeing Tampa Bay scored five times in the top of the ninth for a 7-6 edge, the Rockies had reason to celebrate.

With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Ryan McMahon .delivered the third walk-off grand slam in franchise history, and the Rockies celebrated their 18th all-time Opening Day in Denver victory.

Think About It

—The 75-degree first pitch temperature was the warmest in the franchise’s Opening Day history.

— The Rockies improved to 18-14 in Opening Day in Denver games — 17-13 at Coors Field.

— The pitching staff’s 13 strikeouts equaled the most in a home opener in franchise history, matching the 13 strikeouts the Rockies in 1999,.

— McMahon’s walk-off grand slam was the third in franchise history, the first since Charlie Blackmon on Sept. 11, 2020 against the Los Angeles Angels.

— It was McMahon’s third walk-off home run in his career, his second grand slam.

— McMahon has opened the season by hitting safely in seven or eight games, compiling a .414 average.

— SS Ezequiel Tvoar went 2-for-4 with a three RBI and his second home run of the season, his third career go ahead home run in the sixth inning or later.

— 1B Kris Bryant delivered his first home run of the season — a two-run shot in the eighth inning — hitting the “Hit the Mitt” promotion in left field. That will have UCHealth donating $5,000 via the Colorado Rockies Foundation to Next Chapter, a program that provides comprehensive behavioral health services to veterans and their families in Colorado.

Lost In The Altitude

— Tampa Bay lost for the fourth time in their last five games.

— The Rays 13 strikeouts is their most since they struck out 14 times against Seattle on Sept. 7, 2023.

— Rays starting pitcher Zack Littel allowed one run in five innings, leaving him with a 0.82 ERA..

— Jose Siri and Jose Caballero both picked up heir four stolen bases of the season.

— The Rays have at least one stolen base in each of their first eight games, one game shy of the franchise record set in 1999.

— Jose Siri and Jose Caballero are tied for the third-most steals in MLB with four apiece.

— Tampa Bay reliever Pete Fairbanks (0-1, 18.00 ERA) suffered the loss. He took the mound to start the ninth inning and all three batters he faced drew walks.

— The Rays left 11 runners on base.

On Deck

The Rockies and Tampa Bay meet again on Saturday night. First pitch is 6:10 p.m.