Rockies hold off Rays to pick up first win of season

Brenton Doyle had an RBI single in the third inning and Kyle Farmer added another in the seventh, lifting the visiting Colorado Rockies to a 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday.

Five pitchers combined to allow three hits over 4 2/3 innings in relief of starter Antonio Senzatela, who worked around nine hits and two walks over 4 1/3 scoreless frames.

Luis Peralta (1-0) relieved Senzatela and did not allow a hit or run and struck out one batter in two-thirds of an inning to pick up the win.

Seth Halvorsen retired all four batters he faced to secure his first save of the season and help the Rockies avenge their 3-2 loss to Tampa Bay in the teams’ season opener on Friday.

Colorado helped its cause by throwing out a runner at the plate to end the first and third innings. Junior Caminero was tagged out while trying to score on Jonathan Aranda’s first double of the game, and the latter was thrown out while attempting to beat the throw following a single by Kameron Misner.

Taylor Walls ripped a two-out RBI single to right field off Angel Chivilli in the eighth inning to cut Tampa Bay’s deficit to 2-1. Walls promptly stole second base and Jonny DeLuca walked. Halvorsen, however, entered the game and induced a Yandy Diaz groundout to end the inning.

Caminero had three singles and Aranda ripped two doubles for Tampa Bay. Christopher Morel reached base four times (two singles, two walks), while Misner and Brandon Lowe also had two hits for the Rays, who left 12 men on base.

Colorado’s Nick Martini singled to lead off the third inning and advanced to second on Jordan Beck’s single to left field. Martini came around to score the game’s first run on Doyle’s single to center field.

The Rockies doubled their advantage in the seventh inning as Hunter Goodman ripped a one-out double off Garrett Cleavinger and came around to score two batters later on a single by Farmer.

Zack Littell (0-1) took the loss despite allowing just one run on four hits to go along with seven strikeouts over six innings.