Story, Rockies spoil Greinke's D-backs debut

April 5th, 2016

PHOENIX -- Zack Greinke's much-anticipated debut with the D-backs was expected to be the story of the night.
It wasn't. Trevor was.
Rockies rookie shortstop Trevor Story became the first player in Major League history to hit two homers in his Major League debut on Opening Day -- both coming off Greinke -- to power Colorado to a 10-5 victory in front of 48,165 at Chase Field on Monday. Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa gave up five runs on eight hits in 4 2/3, innings yet still managed to keep Arizona's offense in check.
"It's something you don't even dream of, or something I hadn't dreamed of," said Story, 23, a supplemental first-round pick in the 2011 Draft. "It's really, really special."
It was Greinke who drove in Arizona's first run in the second. It was also Greinke who gave up six runs in the top of the next frame. In the end, Greinke allowed seven runs -- all earned -- on nine hits in four innings.
Jake Lamb's two-run home run in the fourth and Yasmany Tomas' two-run single cut the Rockies' lead to 7-5, but the home team would not come any closer.
Nolan Arenado made sure of it with a three-run home run in the eighth that gave the Rockies a 10-5 advantage. Carlos Gonzalez hit a solo shot off Greinke in the third. It was the first time the Rockies scored in double figures on the road since a 10-0 victory at Milwaukee in last year's opener.

"Are we happy that we lost? No, we are disappointed that we lost," D-backs manager Chip Hale said. "But it's just one of 162 and the goal is to always win the series, so [Tuesday] is a pivotal game. If we don't win [Tuesday], we can't win the series."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Nice start to his Story: During the big third, Story calmly poked Greinke's first pitch, a 92-mph fastball, over the fence in right for a three-run shot -- not bad for his first Major League hit. The second homer off Greinke was a 439-footer to left in the fourth. Story would add a diving backhand grab of a David Peralta line drive to lead off the seventh. More >

Afterward, Story's teammates threw him into a laundry basket, rolled him to the shower and gave him a cold, good-natured dousing.
"We saw right away in Spring Training, he played with a certain calmness and confidence -- the veteran guy embraced him right away, because they could see the same thing everyone else did," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said.
Miller saves De La Rosa: De La Rosa saw a promising evening fall apart when he gave up Tomas' two-run single, then walked the bases loaded in the fifth. But righty Justin Miller, who stranded 14 of the 16 runners he inherited last season, battled pinch-hitter Phil Gosselin to a full count before earning a rally-ending strikeout. More >

"Miller was huge -- that's a tough situation to come in," Weiss said.
Getting to Greinke: Greinke retired six of the first seven batters he faced but ran into trouble in the third and it changed everything. The right-hander gave up six runs in the eventful inning. He had not allowed six runs in an inning since April 12, 2012, against the Cubs at Wrigley Field while with the Brewers. More >

Jake Rakes: D-backs third baseman Lamb had strong spring training and he's off to a solid start to the season. Lamb's two-run home run in the fourth cut Colorado's lead to 7-3. Lamb, who hit six homers in 107 games last season, finished 1-for-3.

QUOTABLE
"The home runs will come. My main focus is driving in runs and helping the teams win. The ball will go over the fence if you hit the ball hard and I'm just trying to hit the ball hard. Singles and doubles with runners on base are good, too. I'm just happy when we score." -- Tomas, who hit nine home runs last season. Tomas finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs

"I was probably more nervous than he was. He looks so calm out there. I'm proud of him. He played a great game, played under control just like he always does. He was impressive." -- Arenado, on Story's debut
REPLAY REVIEW
Hale challenged a force play at second base with two outs in the second on a ball hit by Rockies catcher Nick Hundley. Lamb fielded the ball and fired to second baseman Jean Segura with the Rockies' Mark Reynolds running toward the bag. Reynolds was called safe, but the call was overturned after the review.

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Gonzalez's homer was clocked at 117.36 mph, according to Statcast™. Last year, the first full year of Statcast™ measurements, only two homers flew faster. Both were by the Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton -- 119.2 and 118.5.

WHAT'S NEXT
Rockies: Righty Chad Bettis, who became a solid member of the rotation last season (8-6, 4.23 ERA), will face the D-backs in his first 2016 start Tuesday at 7:40 p.m. MT at Chase Field.
D-backs: Righty Shelby Miller will make his regular-season debut with Arizona on Tuesday at 6:40 p.m. MST against Colorado. The 2015 All-Star, who was acquired from the Braves on Dec. 8, is 2-2 with a 3.99 ERA in five career starts against the Rockies.
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