The Rockies beat the Marlins 6-3 to open the 2019 season on Thursday. A low at highlights and lowlights.
Three up
Freeland’s strong finish. His seven innings of two-hit, one-run ball was impressive enough, but what was most notable was the southpaw’s strong finish to his outing after surrendering a solo pinch-hit homer in the sixth.
Middle of the order. Nolan Arenado had a double out of the three spot, Trevor Story hit a solo homer in the cleanup position and the much-hyped David Dahl, making his first opening day start, was 3-for-4 with an RBI.
Seunghwan Oh. Despite giving up a two-out solo homer to Jorge Alfaro in the ninth, the right-hander looked more polished in the inning than he did during Cactus League action in which he posted a 9.72 ERA.
Three down
Oberg gets taken deep. After a perfect spring which saw the right-handed reliever toss 10 ⅓ innings without allowing an earned run, Neil Walker homered off Oberg on a piped fastball in the eighth.
Murphy’s hitless debut. The first baseman went 0-for-5 in his Rockies debut, so not exactly an ideal showing at the plate for Colorado’s lone offseason major league signing.
Raimel Tapia Ks. There’s been much discussion about how Tapia’s raw hitting talent will translate in a pinch hitting role; the outfielder struck out on three pitches in the eighth in an undisciplined at-bat.
