Rockies hit another record: Worst opening day in franchise history

DENVER (KDVR) — After the Colorado Rockies broke the franchise record for the most losses in one season last year, the team could only go in 2024 – but maybe not right away.

On Thursday, the Rockies kicked off the first game of the season against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the defending National League champions.

The game was close when the D-backs hit two runs in the first inning and the Rockies came back with one run in the second, which ended up being the Rockies’ only time on the scoreboard for the entire game.

By the third inning, things got ugly when the D-backs scored 14 runs in one inning.

The Rockies held the score for the rest of the game, but the team wasn’t able to put any more runs up either, ending in a 16-1 loss and marking a new franchise milestone — the Rockies’ worst opening-day game in history.

Since the team’s first opening day in 1993, the Rockies have lost less than half of the 31 opening-day games.

The most runs a team has scored on the Rockies on opening day was 12, which coincidentally was also from the D-backs in 2014, along with the San Diego Padres in 1999. The Rockies were at least closer in runs, tallying two runs against the D-backs and 10 against the Padres.

However, these weren’t the team’s worst games on opening day.

Before Thursday’s game, the team’s worst opening day loss was in 1997 against the Cincinnati Reds, which ended in a 13-2 loss for the Rockies, an 11-run difference.

But the Rockies made more than just a franchise record.

The game also marked a first in MLB history. The 14 runs were the most in an inning on opening day for any team since 1900.

Outside of opening day, only four teams have scored more than 14 runs in an inning since 1900. The Red Sox scored 17 in 1953, the Rangers hit 16 in 1996 and the Brooklyn Dodgers scored 15 in 1952.

The expectations for the Rockies weren’t exactly high this season.

Sports sites like ESPN and FanDuel are predicting another losing season – but there is some hope. Some sites noted that the Rockies might knock out more wins this season, and the team won’t be the worst.

The team is predicted to be the second worst, according to FanDuel projections.

The Rockies will catch a break with traveling this season and the team also has the advantage of altitude, making it scientifically easier to hit a home run at Coors Field.

There’s still the rest of the season for the Rockies to make a new name for itself. The Rockies’ home opener is next Friday facing the Tampa Bay Rays, where the Rockies get another chance to rebrand this season.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.