Colorado Rockies Win Home Opener 12-2 Over Arizona Diamondbacks Behind Charlie Blackmon and Juan Nicasio

Apr 4, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies center fielder Charlie Blackmon (19) celebrates with second baseman D.J. LeMahieu (left) after hitting a home run during the fourth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

The Colorado Rockies in front of 49,130 people in a sell-out crowd Friday afternoon defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks by the final score of 12-2 behind some fantastic play from Rockies pitcher Juan Nicasio and center fielder Charlie Blackmon. Blackmon would collect 6 of the Rockies 17 hits on the afternoon, tying a club-record. The Rockies would strike right away in the first inning as Charlie Blackmon led off with a double, followed by a Michael Cuddyer single down the right-field line to give them the 1-0 lead.

Back to Juan Nicasio, he put together the best performance from the Rockies starter so far this season. In the first inning, he would strike out D’Backs second baseman Aaron Hill on a 94-MPH fastball on the outside corner. Nicasio would pitch seven quality innings, giving up just one earned run which was a solo-shot from Mark Trumbo in the fifth inning. Nicasio featured a slider he didn’t trust last year, striking out six batters in the victory. Nicasio was very efficient in pitch-count as well, throwing just 88 pitches in seven innings, 64 of those for strikes.

You really can’t say enough about Charlie Blackmon’s performance Friday afternoon as the center fielder collected six hits in all six at-bats. He would hit three doubles to go along with a home run and five RBI’s. Michael Cuddyer would set up the table along with Blackmon, going 3-for-5, with one RBI and two runs. Carlos Gonzalez would hit a monster shot in the sixth inning that almost reached the new party deck in right field.

The bullpen was a little shaky once again with appearances from Chad Bettis and Wilton Lopez but they kept the damage to a minimum. Bettis would throw one inning, giving up one earned run on two hits while collecting a strikeout. Lopez on the other hand gave up two quick hits but managed to get out of the inning without giving up a run.

Notable Rockies Hitters:

• Charlie Blackmon: 6-for-6, 3 2B, HR, 5 RBI’s.
• Michael Cuddyer: 3-for-5, RBI, 2 R’s.
• Carlos Gonzalez: 2-for-4, 3B, HR, 4 RBI’s.
• Troy Tulowitzki: 2-for-3, RBI.

The Colorado Rockies (2-3) return to action tomorrow night in-game number two of the three game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The pitching match-up will include Arizona’s Brandon McCarthy vs. Colorado’s Jorge De La Rosa. First-pitch is scheduled for 8:10 PM ET, 6:10 PM MT.