Rockies Review: April 3, 2017 - Opening Day comeback leads to postseason return

When Charlie Blackmon’s name was penciled into the lineup by new Colorado manager Bud Black on Opening Day 2017, it marked the fourth straight season Mr. Nazty began the year atop the lineup.

Stepping to the plate at Milwaukee’s Miller Park, Blackmon broke the tie with Walt Weiss for the franchise record in batting leadoff in game one. (He has since continued his streak to include 2018 and 2019, making it six consecutive seasons.)

During the course of the season, Blackmon would help lead Colorado to their first playoff appearance in eight years, en route to a fifth-place finish in the NL Most Valuable Player Award voting.

In October, Blackmon would hit leadoff the NL Wild Card Game and later make it five games atop the lineup with the 2018 playoffs; the franchise record for batting first in the postseason is six games held by Willy Taveras (2007).

Starting in his first Opening Day and fresh off an impressive full-season in the majors, Jon Gray got knocked for five runs in the fifth after previously keeping the Brewers scoreless on two hits and a walk through four frames.

Down 5-4, Colorado’s quintet of relievers – Scott Oberg, Carlos Estévez, Mike Dunn, Adam Ottavino, and Greg Holland – proceeded to toss five innings without allowing an earned run.

In addition to handling the ‘pen in his first start on Opening Day, Tony Wolters added two hits and scored twice, including the final two of the game in the 7-5 win over the Brewers.

Mark Reynolds homered and was one of four Rockies to have a multi-hit debut, joining Wolters, Nolan Arenado, and Gerardo Parra.

Opening Day(s)

In 2000, Colorado was shut out for the first time on Opening Day since the team’s inaugural game in 1993.

Once again, Larry Walker and Todd Helton provided half the Rockies’ hits in the season opener. This time, it was against Hall of Famer Greg Maddux in his final season as an All-Star.

Pedro Astacio made his only Opening Day start and a home run by Andres Galarraga, now playing for Atlanta, was the difference in the 2-0 loss.

In 2006, Brad Hawpe walked it off at Coors Field in the 11th inning. Jason Jennings made his second of two Opening Day starts and would not make a third as he was traded following a career year to the Houston Astros in a deal that brought back Tavares.

Fun Fact

Former 1st Round Pick (2006) of the St. Louis Cardinals, Adam Ottavino, was selected off of waivers by Colorado on this day in 2012 and converted from a starting pitcher to a reliever.

On This Day In Baseball History

In 1923, Sweded Risberg and Happy Felsch, two Black Sox players permanently banned from baseball following the 1919 World Series scandal, seek $400,000 in damages and $6,750 in back salary for conspiracy and injury to reputation in the aftermath of the court case that found them of guilt. The lawsuit, unsurprisingly, was unsuccessful.