Dollander gets win in his major-league debut as Rockies bats awaken

DENVER — Rockies Report, Game 9:

ROCKIES BOTTOM LINE: Chase Dollander, the top prospect in the Rockies’ system, got all the support he needed as the bats awoke for their liveliest outburst of the season to date, allowing Colorado to snap a 6-game losing streak in a 12-5 rout.

Ezequiel Tovar tied a career high with four hits, including a two-RBI eighth-inning single that effectively finished off the Athletics, ensuring that Colorado would salvage a win from its first home series of the season. Brenton Doyle had three hits — including a leadoff home run that started a two-run first inning that ensured the Rockies got out of the opening frame square.

Every Colorado player in the starting lineup got a hit — including catcher Hunter Goodman, who had been on an 0-for-14 slump for the series until notching a two-RBI single to left field in his final at-bat of the day. That was part of a 5-run eighth that put the game out of reach.

Colorado is now 2-7.

STARTER’S REPORT: Despite the offensive outburst, Dollander was the story, as the No. 7 prospect in the sport — as ranked by Baseball America — made his debut.

Dollander’s day was much like his spring-training work, with moments of brilliance marred by occasional moments where he missed location. His four-seam fastball and slider consistently reached 97 miles per hour, and he got stronger as the day progressed, touching 99.3 miles per hour with a sinker at the end of the fourth inning to get out of a two-baserunner jam.

Dollander became the first Rockies starter to record a win — testament more to the lack of run support received by Colorado’s other starters so far this season than anything else, as the Rockies’ rotation entered Sunday with a 2.08 ERA for the season.

Dollander was tagged for four earned runs — three of which came on a pair of home runs, including a 435-foot Lawrence Butler blast to straightaway center field in the fifth inning.

But what adheres to the memory was Dollander’s explosiveness and array of pitches, as he mixed a curveball, sinker, cutter and changeup. He was effective at getting the Athletics to chase his curveball, although one that he hung resulted in a two-run Brent Rooker blast that put the Rockies in a 2-0 hole early.

As he’s shown at all levels, Dollander was able to shake off trouble and not get flustered — which was a key reason why Bud Black felt he was ready for the spotlight.

”On balance, I thought it was a good showing,” Black said. “Would he like to do better than five innings and four runs? Probably. And he will, because he’s talented. But he did what he needed to do today to get the win, to be the winning pitcher in a major-league game.

“Which is what I stress to all of our starters — especially in this ballpark. This is a tough place to pitch, as you know. But if you are determined, and you have the will to be a starting pitcher in this ballpark, you’re gonna be fine.”

Rockies get the win and so does Chase 😎 pic.twitter.com/XKREJuXMpk

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) April 6, 2025

IT WAS DECIDED FOR THE ROCKIES WHEN: Seven-straight Rockies reached base in the eighth inning, creating a five-run outburst that put the game out of reach.


ROCKIES NUMBER TO NOTE: .538 — The Rockies’ batting average with runners scoring position Sunday, as they went 7-for-13, reversing the form of the previous five games, when Colorado hit just .098 with RISP (4-for-41).

ROCKIES UNIFORM: The standard home uniform: black hat with black bill, white pinstriped jersey and pants. The Rockies are 1-2 in this look.

WHAT’S NEXT: A Monday off day before starting a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night. Kyle Freeland will make his first home start of the season.