Tampa Bay Rays' Brandon Lowe runs around the bases following his two-run home run off Colorado Rockies pitcher Ryan Feltner during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Brandon Lowe hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first and the Tampa Bay Rays never trailed Sunday in their 6-4 win over the Colorado Rockies.
Taj Bradley (1-0) pitched six innings, allowing two runs on five hits with seven strikeouts for the Rays and Jonny DeLuca went 3 for 4. Pete Fairbanks, who had 48 saves in 56 opportunities over the past two season, allowed two hits with two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth and earned his first save of the season.
Pinch hitter Mickey Moniak hit a two-out two-run homer in the top of the seventh for the Rockies. Nick Martini hit an RBI single in the fifth and Hunter Goodman's single in the top of the sixth drove in Tyler Freeman to make it 2-2.
Tampa Bay's José Caballero went 1 for 3 with an RBI, a walk and a run scored — beating a late tag by catcher Jacob Stallings.
Key moment
Jonathan Aranda scored when Junior Caminero hit a single up the middle to give the Rays the lead for good at 3-2 and spark a four-run bottom of the sixth inning.
Key stat
The Rays are one of three teams (Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels) in MLB with three quality starts in the first three games of the season.
Up next
Former All-Star Germán Márquez, who missed most of the past two seasons due to an elbow injury, pitches Monday as the Rockies begin a three-game set against the Phillies in Philadelphia. Drew Rasmussen takes the mound for the Rays on Monday in the first of three home games against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Tampa Bay Rays' Brandon Lowe (8) celebrates his two-run home run off Colorado Rockies pitcher Ryan Feltner with, from left, Rodney Linares, Junior Caminero, and Christopher Morel during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Rays' Junior Caminero celebrates as he scores on a bunt single by José Caballero to Colorado Rockies catcher Jacob Stallings during the sixth inning of a baseball game Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Rays' Jonathan Aranda, center, celebrates in the dugout after scoring on an RBI single by Junior Caminero against the Colorado Rockies during the sixth inning of a baseball game Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Rays' José Caballero, left, scores ahead of the tag by Colorado Rockies catcher Jacob Stallings on a fielder'c choice by Ben Rortvedt during the sixth inning of a baseball game Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Colorado Rockies' Hunter Goodman (15) runs the bases after his RBi single off Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Taj Bradley during the sixth inning of a baseball game Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Colorado Rockies' Tyler Freeman, left, winces in pain as he is looked at by a team trainer and manager Bud Black (10) after being hit by a pitch from Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Taj Bradley during the sixth inning of a baseball game Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Rays' Jonny DeLuca (21) steals second base ahead of the throw to Colorado Rockies second baseman Tyler Freeman (2) during the xxx inning of a baseball game Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Colorado Rockies' Mickey Moniak (22) celebrates his two-run home off Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Kevin Kelly with Nick Martini (35) during the seventh inning of a baseball game Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Colorado Rockies third base Ryan McMahon, left, tags out Tampa Bay Rays' José Caballero after he was cuaght stealing during the eighth inning of a baseball game Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Rays' Brandon Lowe, center, celebrates with teammates after the team defeated the Colorado Rockies during a baseball game Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
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