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Ubaldo Jimenez rocked the radar gun at 99 mph, with an average fast ball speed of about 96 mph, and became the first Rockies starter to win on Opening Day in 6 years on Monday afternoon.
The Rockies faced a tall task in entering Milwaukee to take on the heavy-hitting Brewers, but Jimenez pitched 6 solid innings for the win. Matt Belisle and Matt Daley put in solid performances in middle relief, the former putting out a fire started by lefty reliever Randy Flores in the 7th. Daley induced a bases-loaded pop fly on the infield to end the Brewers’ only real threat to a Colorado lead that started at 2-0 in the 1st Inning.
The Rockies led 4-0 before Milwaukee fought back with tallies in the 5th & 7th. Both teams scored in the 9th Inning to make it a 5-3 final in favor of Colorado.
Shawn Estes was the last Rockies starter to get a win for Colorado on opening day. Ubaldo Jimenez got into some trouble in the 5th, but calmed down and closed the inning with only a single earned run. That was the only run Jimenez, the Rockies’ new staff ace, gave up on the day.
