Rockies' bullpen blows opener as Rays' Kameron Misner hits walk-off homer

Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post on Mar 28, 2025

Published in Baseball

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One game into the 2025 season, the Rockies are already singing the bullpen blues.

The Rays’ Kameron Misner homered on Victor Vodnik’s first-pitch fastball of the ninth inning for a walk-off homer and a 3-2 victory.

Colorado took a 1-0 lead in the third on Ezequiel Tovar’s RBI double down the left-field line off Rays right-hander Ryan Pepiot to score Jordan Beck, who reached on an error and stole second.

The Rockies wasted Kyle Freeland’s fantastic start, blowing a 2-0 lead that seemed insurmountable, so long as Freeland was on the mound.

Colorado cobbled together another run in the fourth. Michael Toglia was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a wild pitch, took third on Hunter Goodman’s single and scored on Kyle Farmer’s sacrifice fly.

Brandon Lowe led off the seventh with a single, and Junior Caminero followed with a double down the left-field line. Jonathan Arando’s pinch-hit, sacrifice fly to foul territory in deep right scored Lowe and advanced Caminero to the third. Jose Caballero’s single to left scored Caminero and tied the game, 2-2.

Freeland, a lefty making his franchise-high fourth Opening Day start, pitched brilliantly for six scoreless innings. Mixing all his pitches, showing a wicked knuckle curve and biting slider, and working effectively inside with his fastball. Freeland struck out seven, walked none and allowed two weak hits. Yandy Diaz reached on a swinging bunt in the fourth, and Josh Lowe’s roller found a hole through the left side of the infield in the fourth.

Freeland threw just 67 pitches, 53 for strikes. He punched out Danny Jansen in the fifth with a 94 mph fastball.

Despite Freeland’s efficient outing and low pitch count, manager Bud Black lifted Freeland before the seventh, even though Freeland had exceeded 67 pitches twice in Cactus League games.

Black’s call to the bullpen for veteran right-hander Tyler Kinley backfired, bringing back memories of last season’s frequent late-game meltdowns.