Colorado Rockies morning after: Tuesday’s first impressions

While we can’t read everything into the first exhibition game of the condensed 2020 campaign, there were plenty of positives for the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night.

Daniel Murphy made history by hitting the first home run inside Globe Life Field, and Nolan Arenado and David Dahl added long balls as the Colorado Rockies built up a 5-0 lead on the strengths of those homers on the way to a 5-1 victory over the Texas Rangers in Arlington.

Texas and Colorado will meet again in an exhibition game on Wednesday night before taking a day off prior to the two teams starting the regular season in the first of a three-game set on Friday night.

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The second-inning blast by Murphy was a welcome sight for Rockies fans. After an injury-filled first season with Colorado, much of the buzz in spring and summer has been about Murphy regaining his potent swing and becoming the weapon the Rockies envisioned when they inked him to a two-year deal prior to last season.

Seven of Colorado’s nine starters (including designated hitter Raimel Tapia) picked up hits through the first five innings before substitutions began. Colorado’s offensive pop continued over from its impressive moments during summer camp at Coors Field.

While offense may have grabbed the attention, Colorado pitcher Ashton Goudeau continued an impressive stretch on the mound. After going 3-3 with a 2.07 ERA in 16 starts with Double-A Hartford last season, Goudeau was added to the 40-man roster and invited to his first MLB spring training.

On Tuesday night, Goudeau pitched two innings of one-hit ball to get the Rockies off on the right foot. While the 27-year-old right-hander will likely start the season at Colorado’s satellite camp, he showed his abilities and potential against a Rangers lineup filled with starters. Don’t be surprised if he makes an impact for the Rockies in 2020.

After Goudeau left, Chi Chi Gonzalez and Jeff Hoffman took the mound. The pair is battling to become the fifth starter for the Rockies and both pitched a pair of scoreless frames. Gonzalez walked three in his two innings but allowed just one hit. Hoffman, meanwhile, allowed three hits but walked just one.

The most impressive night on the mound may have belonged to new Rockies reliever Tyler Kinley, who needed just 11 pitches (nine of which were strikes) to post a scoreless eighth.