Rays Rally for Walk-off Win Against Rockies in Home Opener
The Colorado Rockies kicked off the 2025 season with a nail-biter down to the final pitch! While the Rockies ultimately fell short in a 3-2 walk-off loss, the game showed some growth for the Rockies, something to build off of going further into the season. Both teams relied on strong pitching performances and timely defense, with the game staying tight until the final at-bat. Despite a promising start from Kyle Freeland and an early lead, the Rockies were unable to hold off Tampa Bay’s late-game push.
Colorado had an early scoring opportunity in the first inning after a misplayed barehand attempt by Junior Caminero, allowing a runner to reach base. A base hit by Ryan McMahon followed, putting runners on the corners with just one out, but Tampa Bay’s defense stepped up to escape the jam unscathed. Rockies ace Kyle Freeland took the mound in the bottom half and looked very sharp. Kyle set down the Rays in order with a quick frame. Ryan Pepiot followed suit for Tampa Bay, matching Freeland with a perfect inning of his own to keep the game scoreless.
The Rockies finally broke through in the third inning, capitalizing on aggressive baserunning and clutch hitting. A leadoff hit by Jordan Beck, followed by a stolen base, put a runner in scoring position for the first time in the game. A well-placed RBI double by Ezequiel Tovar brought home the first run of the season for Colorado, giving them a 1-0 early lead. Tampa Bay’s defense prevented further damage by catching a runner stealing and securing a flyout to end the inning.
Using small ball by bunting a hit to start the fourth inning, Colorado was able to tack on another run. A productive Kyle Farmer at-bat resulted in a sacrifice fly, pushing the Rockies ahead 2-0 as Freeland continued to dominate. The veteran left-hander was in complete control, working efficiently through Tampa Bay’s lineup while racking up five strikeouts through five innings. The Rays’ offense struggled to generate any momentum through the first five innings as Colorado remained in command.
However, the game began to shift in the seventh inning when Tampa Bay finally got on the board. Rockies reliever Tyler Kinley entered the game but quickly got into trouble after allowing a leadoff hit. The Rays capitalized with a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 2-1, keeping the pressure on Colorado’s bullpen. Jose Caballero then delivered a clutch bloop RBI single to tie the game at 2-2, swinging momentum in the Rays’ favor quickly as the inning came to a close with a force-out hit by Curtis Mead.
The eighth inning saw both teams looking to put something together to grab the lead, but the score remained tied with more solid pitching on both sides. Rays reliever Mason Montgomery held the Rockies back, and Tampa Bay’s offense was also shut down in the bottom half, sending the game into the ninth inning with the game on the line on Opening Day. Pete Fairbanks took the mound for the Rays in the ninth, determined to keep the Rockies off the scoreboard. Colorado was able to threaten with a two-out walk by Nick Martini and a stolen base, putting the go-ahead run in scoring position. However, Fairbanks remained calm, working a full count before striking out the final batter, Brenton Doyle, giving Tampa Bay a chance to win it in the bottom half. With the sold-out Tampa crowd on their feet, the Rays sent Kameron Misner to the plate. The first pitch in the bottom of the ninth was sent into the bleachers to give the Rays a dramatic walk-off win to begin the 2025 regular season.
While the Rockies lost their first game, their pitching looked sharp to start the season, showing promise for the games ahead. They also delivered some clutch hitting in key moments, keeping the game competitive until the final inning. Despite the tough loss, the team demonstrated resilience and gave fans plenty of positives to build on. They will look to bounce back in Game Two of this three-game series and even the score to start the season on a strong note.
