The Diamondbacks dropped their spring opener to the Colorado Rockies 12-8. The story from the game was how sharp Corbin Burnes was in his first outing. Burnes went just one inning, striking out all three hitters he faced in the first inning on 16 pitches.
One of those strikeouts came as a result of a successful challenge of a ball call against Kyle Farmer. In a 1-2 count, Burnes hit the low-outside corner of the zone with the cutter but the pitch was called a ball by home plate umpire Lance Barrett. Catcher Gabriel Moreno challenged the call, which was overturned to a called strike. Moreno successfully overturned two ball calls in the game.
The strong start to spring is a good sign for the Diamondbacks' new ace. Signed to a franchise record $210 million contract, the team is hoping for Burnes to anchor the top of their starting rotation.
Geraldo Perdomo, fresh off a $45 million extension, keyed a third-inning rally. Perdomo turned around a 1-2 fastball in the heart of the zone for a double. Ketel Marte singled him home to end his day and Eugenio Suarez singled home two more to make it a three-run inning. That inning was a demonstration of what this offense is capable of.
Another big inning came in the fifth inning. Trailing 5-3, it was three non-roster guys who sparked this rally. Garrett Hampson opened the inning with a single to right, then advanced to third with only one out. Tristin English cashed in on the chance with a sharp single to left to make it 5-4. Ildemaro Vargas then crushed a fly ball down the right field to put the Diamondbacks ahead 6-5.
As good as the hitting was, the pitching struggled. It's worth noting that many of the pitchers who threw weren't even a non-roster invitee. The Rockies put up a couple big innings, scoring five in the fourth and six in the ninth. That will be something they have to correct moving forward.
The Diamondbacks will take on the Rockies again. Arizona will send reliever Jose Castillo to the mound while Colorado will go with pitching prospect Gabriel Hughes. First pitch at Salt River Fields will be at 1:10 PM MST, with the game being broadcast on DbacksTV.