Pedro Astacio has fond memories of pitching in Colorado from 1997 from 2001, during which time the right-hander racked up 749 strikeouts, third-most in club history, while also ranking sixth among all Rockies in wins (53), winning percentage (.525) and WAR (10.8).
But the moment that stands alone to the 49-year-old is his first start at Coors Field on Aug. 28, 1997 — just nine days after being traded by the Dodgers to Colorado for infielder Eric Young. On that day he got his first taste of the altitude faithful.
In that game, a 9-5 victory over Seattle, Astacio mowed through seven innings of two-run baseball before getting taken deep twice, and getting the hook, in the eighth.