DENVER — Jacob Wilson was the hero for the Athletics as he delivered a crucial two-run single in the 11th inning, lifting his team to a 6-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies in a snowy season opener at Coors Field. Throughout the match, flurries continued to fall, and the game began with a temperature of 37 degrees, making it the second-coldest home opener in Rockies history.
Struggling in their initial games, the Athletics had been swept by the Chicago Cubs during their stay in West Sacramento, California. However, they showed resilience on the road by enhancing their record to 3-2 and snapping a four-game overall losing streak. Unfortunately for Colorado, the team went 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position, leaving 13 runners stranded. Their offensive woes leave them with only 14 runs, the lowest in the major leagues through seven games.
Rookie pitcher Noah Murdock proved instrumental in the Athletics’ success, recording two hitless innings with three strikeouts and two walks, earning him his first major league win. Meanwhile, Mason Miller secured his second save of the season. Angel Chivilli took the loss for Colorado.
Ezequiel Tovar, whose previous 15 at-bats were hitless, managed to tally three hits and score a run. However, Tovar’s efforts ended when he struck out on Miller’s fastest pitch of the day at a blistering 101.2 mph.
A pivotal moment in the game came when Wilson’s soft hit to right field with two outs in the 11th broke a 3-3 deadlock. His solo homer in the fourth inning extended the Athletics’ streak of at least one home run in their first eight games, equaling the team record from 2002.
Looking forward, the game on Saturday will feature Colorado’s right-hander Germán Márquez against Athletics’ left-hander JP Sears.