Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night … matters much if you don’t get decent starting pitching.
The Rockies were reminded of that, again, in an 8-3, home-opening loss to Atlanta on a frigid Friday at Coors Field. The first-pitch temperature was 27 degrees, with snow flurries, making it the coldest home opener in franchise history.
Right-hander German Marquez, a native of Venezuela, bravely took the mound in shirt sleeves, and promptly gave up four runs in the first inning. Included in the Braves’ onslaught was a one-out, solo home run by Ozzie Albies, a two-run triple by Dansby Swanson and three walks by Marquez (one intentional).