You could not have asked for a better start to the season for the Arizona Diamondbacks as they started their 2024 season with two series at home.  The hardest part of the offseason is simply waiting for Opening Day.  And that day started with the National League Champions picking up where they left off (kinda) with an offensive explosion in their first series against division rival Colorado Rockies.  
​
​And, to be honest, nobody saw this coming.  In the very first game of the matchup, the Diamondbacks exploded for a huge offensive win, which included a franchise- record 14-run inning.  It was the most runs scored in a single inning on Opening Day since 1900.  
​
​Backed by ace starter, Zac Gallen, who went five innings, struck out three, and only allowed the single earned run, the Diamondbacks would win the first game by a final of 16-1.  Ironically, the only offensive starter that did not get a hit against the Rockies was the 2023 Rookie of the Year, Corbin Carroll, who went 0-3 with two walks, and 2 runs scored.
​
​The second game was a little bit more familiar to modern baseball fans.  There was no "touchdown" count in any of the innings.  But, while leading 3-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth, and following an RBI single by Suarez, Alek Thomas would drill a home run to right (399 feet), extending the Diamondbacks lead to 7-1.  The Rockies would add a couple runs in the late innings, but would still fall to Arizona 7-3.  Merrill Kelly would get the win for the Diamondbacks as he went 6.2 innings pitched, allowing only one run on three hits, and striking out eight.  
​
​In the final game of the series, the Rockies finally bounced back from the 23-4 beatdown they received in the first two games (total).  The face of the franchise, Charlie Blackmon would go 2-5 with two RBI's, including launching the 5-run inning for the Rockies with a two-run double.  The Rockies would take the lead for good in the 5th inning, and win the game by a total of 9-4.   
​
​One note for the Diamondbacks: Left Fielder, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. set a franchise record for being the first to homer in the first three games to open the season for the Diamondbacks.  The loss would go to starting pitcher, Tommy Henry, who lasted 4.0 innings, while allowing 5 earned runs, and giving up 6 hits (one home run) and striking out four, would get the loss.  
​
​Arizona would bounce back in the fourth and final game of the series with a 5-1 win.  Christian Walker made the big splash in the first inning with a two-run shot that gave the Diamondbacks a 3-0 lead.  Brandon Pfaadt kept the Rockies offense at bay, pitching 5.0 innings, allowing just one earned run, while striking out eight.  

And then came the "Evil Empire" into town, also known as the New York Yankees.  And yes, I'm allowed to say that.  Growing up in the 80's and 90's in the Boston area, no professional sports team had been more responsible for ruining my childhood than the New York Yankees.  And because of that, I have come to tell people that I have two favorite baseball teams; The Boston Red Sox, and ANYONE THAT BEATS THE YANKEES!

Fortunately for me, the Yankees were in town playing a team that I cover and cheer for, so this was actually easier than usual. Unfortunately for me, and the Diamondbacks, the Yankees went into game one of the three-game series firing on all cylinders, starting out 4-0, including a great start from their biggest offseason acquisition, Juan Soto.  

Anthony Volpe would have a great start to the series for the Yankees, going 4-4 with a pair of doubles and an RBI.  The downfall for the Diamondbacks was that starting pitcher, Ryne Nelson only lasted 2.2 innings, giving up 5 runs, 4 earned, and he walked 4 batters.  The Yankees would go on to win by a score of 5-2. 

In the second game, with ace Zac Gallen back on the mound, the Diamondbacks actually showed what their best pitching looked like as Gallen went six strong innings, striking out six, allowing no runs, and gave up just three hits.  The bullpen (McGough, Thompson, Jarvis) would complete the shut out with each of the three pitchers pitching one shut out inning.  The Diamondbacks went on to win the second game of the series, 7-0.  

Offensively, Christian Walker would go 2-4, with three RBI's, including a three-run shot (7th inning, 424 feet) to left.  This was his third home run of the season.  

In the "rubber match" of the series, the evil (cough)....the Yankees would bounce back and take the series with a 6-5 win in extra's after a 2-run shot by newcomer (and ******** former Red Sox player) Alex Verdugo in the top of the 10th.  Aaron Judge also hit his first home run of the season in the 4th off of Diamondbacks starter, Merrill Kelly.  Kelly had a solid start, despite not getting the win, going 7.0 innings, allowing 2 earned runs on five hits, and striking out four.  

So, the Diamondbacks would split their first two series, finishing their home stand with a 4-3 record.  They start a 3-game series in Atlanta on Friday, and then they head to the rockies, to take on.....the Rockies before heading home for their next home stand on April 12th when they take on the St. Louis Cardinals, and the Chicago Cubs. 

My next media coverage will be during that home series against the Cardinals.  You can listen to The S3 Podcast every Friday at 4pm PST by going here: https://www.coachjeffdemers.com/thes3
​
​If you're interested in learning how to start your own sports podcast, I've created a free guide that you can download that will teach you how to launch, build, and monetize your own podcast here: https://www.coachjeffdemers.com/optin