Chase Dollander debuts, Rockies bats wake up in 12-5 rout of A's

Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post on Apr 6, 2025

Published in Baseball

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DENVER — The Chase Dollander era began Sunday afternoon at Coors Field with the 23-year-old throwing 99 mph fastballs and the Rockies snapping a six-game losing streak with a 12-5 rout of the Athletics.

Dollander, considered one of the prospects in franchise history, had a mixed major league debut. He pitched five innings, giving up four runs on seven hits, including two home runs.

But the right-hander sparked positive vibes from the lively crowd of 26,207. The fans cheered with gusto every time he fanned a batter. It helped that the Rockies’ hibernating offense finally awoke.

Colorado entered Sunday having scored just 18 runs over its first eight games, but it ripped A’s pitching for a season-high 14 hits.

Brenton Doyle led off the Rockies’ first with a home run and finished 3 for 5 with four RBIs. Ezequiel Tovar hit 4 for 5 with two doubles and three RBIs.

Kris Bryant broke out of his early-season slump with a 2 for 5 day, including a double and an RBI.

The Rockies were leading 7-4 when Dollander departed the game. Dollander, whose fastball peaked at 99.3 mph, fed the A’s an assortment of breaking balls. He struck out six. He walked only one.

However, he was hurt by the long ball. Tyler Soderstrom, the A’s cleanup hitter, hit a two-run, 386-foot homer to right field off Dollander in the first inning. Lawrence Butler led off the fifth with a 435-foot blast to center.

Dollander, 23, the ninth overall selection in the 2023 draft out of the University of Tennessee, said Saturday that he was prepared for the challenge of pitching at Coors, the most hitter-friendly ballpark in the majors.

“I think, mentally, I’m 100% ready,” he said. “I’ve been preparing for this moment, and I’m ready to go out there and just have fun.

“There are things that will come up, homers that probably won’t go out anywhere else. But you have to realize that things are going to happen, realize what’s happening, and be able to calm yourself down. That’s one thing I’m really good at.”

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