After being outscored 23-4 in the first two games of the season, the Colorado Rockies (1-2) finally got in the win column as they defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks (2-1) by a score of 9-4 on Saturday night.

The Rockies’ offense tallied 10 hits in total, including four extra-base hits as they kept pace with a Diamondbacks team that has continued to put together elite at-bats.

Austin Gomber started on the hill for the Rockies and battled his command throughout his start. The Diamondbacks quickly struck for two runs in the first inning once again, before the Rockies answered in the top of the second courtesy of shortstop Ezequiel Tovar’s (1-for-4) first home run of the season, a two-run shot to left field.

Ezequiel Tovar ROCKET home run to tie it pic.twitter.com/91PE1cy9gw

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 31, 2024

Gomber’s command led to an outing in which he lasted just 4 2/3 innings and threw 91 pitches, 57 of which went for strikes, allowing four games. He navigated three walks and six hits by inducing six ground balls, including a few that turned into crucial doubles plays. Two of the six hits came via home runs surrendered to Eugenio Suarez (2-for-3) in the fourth inning and Lourdes Gurriel Jr’s (2-for-4) third home run of the season in the fifth.

Eugenio Suarez’s first Dbacks homer is a go-ahead blast! pic.twitter.com/7swaNeOq8c

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 31, 2024

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. has homered in all three Dbacks games thus far pic.twitter.com/tnEGHxoK26

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 31, 2024

The offense for the Rockies finally came alive in the fifth inning as the team rallied for five runs on three hits. Elehuris Monteo (1-for-1) led the inning off with one of his three walks on the night, followed by a Brenton Doyle (2-for-3) single. Veteran outfielder Charlie Blackmon (2-for-5) then delivered a two-run double down the first base line to give the Rockies a one-run 4-3 lead with nobody out.

Charlie Blackmon's two-run double #Rockies: https://t.co/9IKoq2kd7p

— Luke Zahlmann (@lukezahlmann) March 31, 2024

Kris Bryant, who went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts, drew a walk to set up runners on the corners with no outs for Nolan Jones. Jones then battled for 11 pitches, finally resulting in a two-run triple to give the Rockies a 6-4 lead. Ryan McMahon (2-for-5) then launched a sacrifice fly to center field to give the Rockies a 7-4 lead. Doyle would later give the team a pair of insurance runs in the top of the eighth courtesy of a two-run home run, his first of the year.

And on the 11th pitch of the at-bat, he tripled pic.twitter.com/0hzwi9NnEy

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) March 31, 2024

⚾Brenton Doyle, @BrentonDoyle7! HR (1)

3/30/24 @ AZ, ⬆️ 8th
vs RHP Bryce Jarvis

101.1 MPH / 23° / 383 ft to LF
Off a 93.3 MPH four-seam fb

▶️It's a home run in 29/30 parks.◀️
🏟️(Not in BAL.)

📺: https://t.co/eCOlCngf2r pic.twitter.com/RFfK1pl27n

— Home Run Report (@homerunreport) March 31, 2024

Despite the shortened start of Gomber, the Rockies bullpen kept the Diamondbacks in place. The pen combined to cover 4 1/3 innings, surrendering no runs on two hits with a pair of strikeouts. However, walks were once again a problem as Rockies arms issued nine free passes. Fortunately, four ground ball double plays helped keep the Diamondbacks in check. Justin Lawrence secured his first save of the season.

The Diamondbacks threatened multiple times, but relievers Jalen Beeks and Nick Mears both came in at crucial moments to lock things down to keep the Snakes scoreless after the fifth inning.

What helped the Rockies was a more patient approach at the plate, especially at the bottom of the lineup. Montero and Doyle combined for four of the Rockies six walks, while everyone other than Bryant combined for just five strikeouts. The five through nine spots in the line went a combined 7-for-16 and scored six runs.

Tommy Henry lasted just four innings for the Diamondbacks, allowing five runs on six hits, but did strike out four. The Snakes tallied eight hits as a group.

Up Next

Ryan Feltner makes his first start of the year as the Rockies look to split the series. Felter spent Spring Training working on embracing being a power pitcher and represents some of the best the Rockies rotation has to offer. He will have to work on limiting his walks and utilizing the strikeout.

He will face off against Brandon Pfaadt, who looks to build upon the success he had in the postseason with the Diamondbacks after a rollercoaster 2023 regular season.