The first official MLB game on record at Globe Life Field was a tightly contested pitchers’ duel. Lance Lynn was impressive for the Rangers throwing 108 pitches in six innings of shutout ball. German Márquez was almost equally impressive taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning where it was broken up on a one-out double by Danny Santana. Santana would end up scoring the game’s only run later in the inning on a double off the bat of Rougned Odor. The loss gives the Rockies a record of 0-1 to start the season.
Stuff of an ace
Márquez was excellent in his first Opening Day start. He began the game by sitting down the first eight batters in a row before Isiah Kiner-Falefa drew a two-out walk in the third. He struggled to find his command in the fourth inning after Joey Gallo reached on an error by Trevor Story. He walked Odor and Todd Frazier before getting Robinson Chirinos to ground out to second to end the inning. The third time through the lineup the Rangers were finally able to record a base hit with Santana’s double and did their only damage of the day. The final line for Márquez was 5 ⅔ IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 6 K.
Dahl and no one else
Despite a night of anemic offense, David Dahl came ready to play. He was responsible for all three hits recorded by the Rockies stroking a single in the third, a double in the fifth, and another single to lead off the eighth. Unfortunately his solid performance as lead-off man did not produce any runs as the heart of the Rockies lineup struggled. The rest of the Rockies lineup combined to go 0-for-26 although they did draw six walks on the day.
Hilliard making plays
While not getting anything done at the plate, Sam Hilliard showed why he was given the start in left field rather than DH. Hilliard made a diving catch to end the sixth inning and keep the Rangers from adding onto their one-run lead. In the seventh he made a running catch as well. This may be indicative of Bud Black’s preference of who gets more playing time between Hilliard and Raimel Tapia during the early going this season.
Up Next
The Rockies will face the Rangers again tomorrow with Jon Gray taking the mound against Mike Minor for Game 2 of the three-game series.