D-Backs explode for team-record 14-run inning vs. Rockies

The Snakes are alive, and they appear to be quite deadly.

The Arizona Diamondbacks opened their season with a bang, jumping all over the Colorado Rockies with a franchise-record 14-run third inning in their Opening Day 16-1 victory at Chase Field.

Rookie Blaze Alexander drove in the record-setting run on his first career hit, an RBI single off reliever Anthony Molina. It was also the D-Backs' 13th hit of the frame, setting another franchise record.

The D-Backs held a 16-1 lead by the end of the inning.

"I've never seen anything like that," D-Backs manager Torey Lovullo said, according to MLB.com's Steve Gilbert.

Arizona's 14 runs were the most ever scored in an inning on Opening Day and came up just three shy of tying the modern single-inning record set by the Boston Red Sox in 1953. The overall record for runs in an inning is 18, set by the Chicago White Stockings in 1883.

The D-Backs sent 18 batters to the plate during the frame, the most by any team in one inning since 2010.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. recorded three of his five RBIs in the first three innings thanks to a pair of run-scoring singles in the third.

The Rockies, meanwhile, broke their club record for runs allowed in a single inning. They set their previous mark of 13 last summer during a 25-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels at Coors Field. Colorado also set dubious team marks for hits allowed and batters faced in a single frame.

Rockies starter Kyle Freeland surrendered eight of the 14 runs before he was mercifully pulled. Freeland was charged with 10 runs during his outing, a team record for Opening Day, while his 2 1/3 innings pitched tied Aaron Cook for the shortest season-opening start in team history, according to journalist Patrick Lyons.

Molina, who made his major-league debut taking over for Freeland, was charged with six runs in 1/3 of an inning. Jalen Beeks finally ended the frame when he got Alek Thomas to ground out.