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The Colorado Rockies started their 2007 season in Denver with three games against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Relief pitcher LaTroy Hawkins gave up a three-run eight inning on Opening Day giving the D'Backs the victory. However, the Rox rebounded to take the next two games from the Diamondbacks to secure their first series win of the season.
Opening Day kicked off with starting pitcher woes. Colorado's Aaron Cook gave up a run in the top half of the first inning while the reigning Cy Young winner, Brandon Webb, gave up three walks and two runs in the bottom half. In the top of the eighth inning, Rockies' Fans welcomed their new setup man LaTroy Hawkins. Hawkins struggled in his debut giving up 3 runs and allowing the D'Backs a 2-run lead. Unable to capitalize on opportunities in both the eighth and ninth innings the Rox suffered their first loss this season.
After scoring two early runs off of Livan Hernandez, the Rockies were unable to hold their lead. The second game of the year went into extra innings, and in the top of the eleventh inning pitcher Byung-Hyun Kim surrendered a run. On the verge of losing their second game, rookie Rockie Troy Tulowitski tied the game with a two-out line drive off of right fielder Eric Byrnes' wrist. Following Tulowitski was rookie catcher Chris Iannetta. Iannetta hit a hard ground ball under third baseman Alberto Callaspo's glove to score Tulowitski from second.
The Rockies' win was the first walk-off in the Majors this year.
Even scoring 11 runs in the final game of the series, the story was not about the Rockies' offense. Instead, focus was on the Rockies' new pitcher Rodrigo Lopez. Lopez lost 18 games with the Orioles last year, but is one of only 11 American League pitchers to have at least 60 wins between 2002 and 2006. Lopez started his '07 campaign with only one blunder in 7 innings - a second inning home run by Eric Byrnes. The Rockies had the lead the entire game and added 7 runs in the eighth off reliever JD Durbin to secure the series victory.
Next up, the Rox head to San Diego for a 3-game set. Tonight pitcher Jason Hirsh will face his childhood idol Greg Maddux.
Last April the Rockies swept the Padres in their first series at Petco.
Also published at http://rox-fan.blogspot.com/
