The hapless Rockies made franchise infamy again on Tuesday in Detroit.

Facing a rookie pitcher in the opener of a three-game series at Comerica Park, Colorado got skunked 11-0 in a blowout that goes down as one of the most embarrassing losses in a season full of them.

Right-hander Keider Montero threw a three-hit, complete game shutout with no walks and five strikeouts. The Rockies sent the minimum 27 batters to the plate due to a trio of double plays, marking the first time in franchise history that’s happened.

“Montero had a really solid four-pitch mix,” Rockies manager Bud Black told reporters. “He had a lively fastball, two good breaking balls (with a slider and knuckle curve) and a good change-up. He threw a ton of strikes, and we couldn’t solve the pitches in the strike zone.

“… He got on a roll pretty much the whole game of coming after us with strikes, and we didn’t square any up. It’s rare these days, to have a complete game with a low pitch count (at 96). You don’t see that type of game in this era.”

Ryan McMahon’s single in the second, Ezequiel Tovar’s single in the seventh and Aaron Schunk’s single in the eighth were Colorado’s only baserunners in the loss. All three hitters were eventually out on double plays.

The Rockies have been no-hit three times: Al Leiter in Miami and Hideo Nomo at Coors Field, both in 1996, and Clayton Kershaw at Dodger Stadium in 2014. But Colorado tallied multiple walks in the ’96 no-nos, and managed a baserunner via an error in Kershaw’s game, thus had never sent just 27 to the dish before.

Until Tuesday, when Montero wasn’t overpowering (his fastball topped out at 95.6 mph and averaged 93.2), he had Colorado hitters guessing and consistently mistiming their swings. That enabled him to tally a “Maddux” — the term for a start in which a pitcher throws a complete-game shutout with less than 100 pitches.

Meanwhile, the Rockies’ pitching was horrendous.

Parker Meadows led off Detroit’s half of the first inning with a homer on a piped fastball by Bradley Blalock, who was erratic in his four innings of work.

“The fastballs up are kind of eating me alive right now,” Blalock told reporters.

Blalock allowed five runs, including four in the second inning, while walking five as the rookie right-hander again lacked control. His ERA now stands at 5.87.

“The walks came back to bite him,” Black said. “It was the opposite of Montero.”

With the Tigers up 5-0 at the midway point, they poured it on with a six-run sixth against the combination of Anthony Molina and Justin Lawrence. The frame started with a walk to Jace Jung, then featured RBI knocks by Meadows and Matt Vierling as well as a sacrifice fly by Kerry Carpenter.

Lawrence then spelled Molina and immediately gave up a two-run single to Andy Ibáñez to push the score to 11-0. Colorado fell to 54-91 with the loss.

With 17 games remaining in the season, the Rockies need to finish 9-8 to avoid their second straight 100-loss season, and 5-12 to avoid surpassing last year’s club-record 103 defeats.

Wednesday’s pitching matchup

Rockies RHP Tanner Gordon (0-5, 7.55 ERA) at Tigers RHP Casey Mize (2-6, 4.30)

4:40 p.m. Wednesday, Comerica Park

TV: Rockies.TV (streaming); Comcast/Xfinity (channel 1262); DirecTV (683); Spectrum (130, 445, 305, 435 or 445, depending on region).

Radio: 850 AM/94.1 FM

The Rockies haven’t officially announced their starter for Wednesday, but it figures to be Gordon. He was called up from Triple-A on Tuesday to take the place of southpaw Austin Gomber, who was supposed to start on Wednesday but went on the paternity list. Gordon’s been mostly roughed up in seven big-league outings so far, though the rookie did have a quality start on Aug. 3 in San Diego when he threw six innings of one-run ball. In his most recent outings, he was shelled, giving up 11 runs across those two starts and six homers.

Mize hasn’t been glamorous but he’s been effective when healthy, as he hasn’t given up more than three runs in an MLB start since May. The No. 1 overall pick in 2018, Mize missed significant time this season with a hamstring injury. He had a quality start in his return on Aug. 30 against Boston, and last week threw 5 1/3 innings with three runs against the Padres.

Pitching probables

Thursday: Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (2-10, 4.96) at Tigers LHP Tarik Skubal (16-4, 2.53), 11:10 a.m.

Friday: Rockies TBA vs. Cubs RHP Javier Assad (6-5, 3.14), 6:40 p.m.

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PHILADELPHIA — Bryce Harper thought he had his first home run since Aug. 9.

He’d already finished his trot around the bases after crushing a first-pitch cutter from Rays pitcher Taj Bradley in the fifth inning on Tuesday. But replay review revealed a fan had reached over the right-field wall to snag the ball.

Perhaps the 106-mph laser would have made it out anyway. But due to the fan interference, it was ruled a double, and Harper’s home run drought continued.

By the end of Tuesday’s 9-4 win over Tampa Bay, it had been 118 plate appearances since the Phillies’ first baseman had homered, but he made up for it with three doubles on a 4-for-5 night.

Harper’s third double of the game came in a drama-filled eighth inning, where the Phillies racked up five hits, scored five runs and the benches cleared after Tampa Bay pitcher Edwin Uceta hit Nick Castellanos with a pitch. Uceta was ejected by umpire James Hoye.

Pinch-hitting Cal Stevenson got things started in the inning with a clutch two-run double that broke a 4-4 tie. Buddy Kennedy stepped up to the plate as chants of “Bud-dy, Bud-dy!” rained down for the second night in a row, and this time the utility man responded with an RBI single. Trea Turner kept the line moving with his second two-run homer of the game.

The Phillies’ bats were able to pick up starting pitcher Ranger Suárez, who had a shaky outing. His pitch velocity was higher than his last outing against Miami, but still lower than his season average. Suárez’s sinker, which he threw 45% of the time, hovered around 89.9 mph, down from its yearlong average of 90.9 mph.

In his previous start against the Marlins, Suárez overcame the dip in velocity and what manager Rob Thomson called “a bit of a dead arm” with sharp command. He wasn’t able to replicate that on Monday, and allowed a career-high 12 hits to the Rays.

Suárez was removed after 5 1/3 innings and 88 pitches, his highest pitch count since his injury. He only recorded two strikeouts, his fewest in a game since June 30.

Kyle Schwarber gave the Phillies an early lead with his 14th leadoff homer of the season, which set a MLB record. The achievement was overshadowed, however, when Schwarber was removed from the game in the fourth inning with elbow discomfort.

The Phillies tacked on another run in the second and two more in the third off Turner’s first home run. But the Rays continued to chip away, and after Harper’s near home run, Tampa tied things up an inning later. The Phillies had opportunities throughout the game to pull back ahead, but stranded a runner at third base four separate times before breaking things open in the eighth.

Tanner Banks pitched the ninth. He loaded the bases with two walks and a single, but a sliding catch from Stevenson in center field stranded all three runners.

Here’s a look at how the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills match up in six key areas ahead of Thursday night’s Week 2 game (8:15 p.m., CBS4, Amazon Prime Video):

When the Dolphins run: Miami had a modest ground game in its opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and now the Dolphins’ top two running backs are banged up. Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane are dealing with chest and ankle injuries, respectively. The rushing attack went for 81 yards on 25 attempts Sunday, a 3.2 average, in the first game of the Robert Jones-Aaron Brewer-Liam Eichenberg interior offensive line combination in 2024.

A bright spot was found late in veteran Jeff Wilson Jr., who had an efficient 26 yards on five carries. Rookie Jaylen Wright, who was a healthy inactive Sunday, could make his NFL regular-season debut if one or both of Mostert or Achane can’t play Thursday night against Buffalo.

The Bills surrendered 5 yards per carry in their opener against the Arizona Cardinals, but that number was inflated by 57 yards allowed to scrambling quarterback Kyler Murray. Buffalo returns the defensive tackle combination of Ed Oliver and DaQuan Jones with solid young middle linebacker Terrel Bernard, but remember this unit was vulnerable against the run in 2023. The Miami ground game, though, appears hampered. Edge: Bills

When the Bills run: When Buffalo reeled off a six-game winning streak from the end of the regular season through the wild-card round of the playoffs last season, it leaned on its running game. The Bills stuck to that formula in Sunday’s win over the Cardinals, keeping quarterback Josh Allen to 23 pass attempts while running the ball 33 times as a team.

Running back James Cook, the former Miami Central High product, saw the bulk of that workload, getting 19 carries and going for 71 yards. Allen, always a threat with his legs, rushed for two touchdowns. The Bills no longer have Mitch Morse to anchor the offensive line in the middle, but now have Connor McGovern at center.

The Dolphins didn’t have a great debut against the run, allowing 4.9 yards per carry to the Jaguars, letting Tank Bigsby and Travis Etienne both reel off big chunk plays. They did make the game-changing play in run defense, though, albeit while nearly allowing Etienne to run for his second touchdown, when safety Jevon Holland forced the key fumble that shifted momentum. Miami has the personnel to be better at stopping the run, between Sieler, Calais Campbell and linebackers David Long Jr. and Jordyn Brooks. Edge: Even

When the Dolphins pass: Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa came away from Week 1 like he did the 2023 season, leading the NFL in passing yards. His 338 yards were enough to lead the league in the opening week. He hit some big plays down the field to Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, including the 80-yard touchdown to Hill after the fumble recovery. He still was shaky at times in the opener and could find more consistency, when targeting others not named Hill, Waddle or Achane out of the backfield, who had seven catches for 76 yards.

The Bills secondary seems vulnerable this year after overhauling on the back end. Damar Hamlin and Taylor Rapp are the starting safeties after Buffalo cut ties with its longtime combination of Jordan Poyer (now with the Dolphins) and Micah Hyde. The Bills also released cornerback Tre’Davious White, and nickel cornerback Taron Johnson is out for Thursday’s game, creating a huge hole for Buffalo. The Dolphins’ speedy playmakers should get their opportunities against this secondary.

That said, they did hold Arizona in check through the air in the opener. The pass rush was a big reason. Former University of Miami standout Greg Rousseau sacked Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray three times. Veteran, former star pass-rusher Von Miller had a sack, and they also have A.J. Epenesa on the edge. Tackles Terron Armstead and Austin Jackson will have their hands full, but Tagovailoa gets the ball out quick, regardless. Edge: Dolphins

When the Bills pass: Allen, who has historically torched Miami, was an efficient 18 of 23 for 232 yards and two passing touchdowns to go with his two rushing scores in the opener against Arizona. He is turnover-prone, and did lose a fumble, while not throwing an interception Sunday. The Dolphins know what it’s like to face him, but he also lost a lot in his receiving corps this offseason.

Buffalo no longer has star wide receiver Stefon Diggs or No. 2 option Gabe Davis. Rookie Keon Coleman led the Bills with 51 receiving yards in Week 1. Khalil Shakir had one touchdown, and Mack Hollins had the other. He has strong second-year tight end Dalton Kincaid and can throw to Cook out of the backfield. Playing four days after his 2024 debut on a bad hamstring, the hope is Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey is running more comfortably in his second game after giving up a pair of big plays Sunday.

But he and outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips surpassed their projected snap counts, as Phillips played his first game coming off the torn Achilles of last November. He had a sack, as did Campbell and Emmanuel Ogbah. Miami will need to apply that pressure against Allen against tackles Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown, while containing the dual-threat quarterback in the pocket so he can’t devastate you with this legs. Edge: Even

Special teams: Buffalo is always solid in the third phase of the game. Dolphins special teams coordinator Danny Crossman knows this, having been there previously and falling victim to a crucial punt return touchdown in last year’s regular-season finale.

But Deonte Harty, who scored that backbreaker the last time the teams squared off, is no longer with the Bills. Former Buffalo gunner and special teams ace Siran Neal is now actually with Miami — and exceptional at downing punts. Miami punter Jake Bailey had a strong season debut, flipping the field consistently on Jacksonville while the Dolphins trailed. And, of course, kicker Jason Sanders kicked a game-winner from 52 yards Sunday, bouncing back from an earlier miss. Edge: Even

Intangibles: The Bills have devastated the Dolphins in recent years, winning 11 of the past 12 pairings. That’s got to create a mental edge. But there has been a lot of turnover on that roster. Many of those players aren’t even there, Allen notwithstanding, of course. The Bills coming back from three games down with five weeks remaining last season feels like the tipping point that starts shifting this rivalry Miami’s way. The Dolphins don’t get the early afternoon sun advantage this trip to Miami Gardens for the Bills, but it’s still going to be plenty hot and humid and the western New Yorkers will be sweating profusely. Plus, visiting teams have an even harder time on the road when playing on a short week. Edge: Dolphins

PREDICTION: Dolphins 27, Bills 23

Dolphins Deep Dive: Prediction time — will Miami win Thursday night vs. Josh Allen, Bills? | VIDEO

LOS ANGELES — I wasn’t looking for Alex Morgan when I stopped by the San Diego Wave’s sprawling practice facility last month. I was there to talk to Landon Donovan, the other national team legend, who had just been named the Wave’s interim coach.

But Morgan sidled over after practice anyway and we talked for about 20 minutes. She chatted about her daughter Charlie, who has been the subject of most conversations with Morgan over the last four years. But she also talked about her charitable foundation, the businesses she hopes to start, her husband Servando Carrasco and the homemade food she prepares for her two dogs.

What she didn’t talk about was soccer. And if ever there was a sign that Morgan was ready to move on from the sport that had long defined her life, that conversation on a windswept bluff overlooking the 5 Freeway was it.

Last Thursday, Morgan made it official, announcing her retirement from professional soccer in an emotional 4 1/2-minute video she posted to social media. She played her final game Sunday in San Diego, her new hometown, against the North Carolina Courage.

“I’m retiring,” she said during the video, in which she also announced she is pregnant again. “And I have so much clarity about this decision. It has been a long time coming and this decision wasn’t easy.”

“Soccer’s been a part of me for 30 years,” she continued, pausing frequently to take deep breaths and compose herself. “It was one of the first things I ever loved. I gave everything to this sport, and what I got in return was more than I could have ever dreamed of.”

Morgan, 35, who learned the game playing on AYSO teams in Diamond Bar, will leave as one of the greatest players ever. A two-time World Cup champion, Olympic gold medalist and NWSL titlist, Morgan was also a three-time finalist for FIFA’s world player of the year. Her 123 international goals — 14 more than Lionel Messi — rank ninth all time, regardless of gender.

But she wasn’t just a scorer, she was a winner: In the 86 international matches in which she had a goal, the U.S. never lost, going 76-0-10.

“In a storied USWNT program, Alex has been one of the all-time bests to wear the jersey,” said Jill Ellis, who coached Morgan to her two World Cup titles and then, as president of the Wave, made Morgan the centerpiece of the expansion team’s first roster.

Wherever she went during much of her 15-year professional career, Morgan was trailed by a legion of young fans, their haired tucked into a tight ponytail like Morgan’s and their tiny bodies wrapped in Morgan’s No. 13 jersey. A typical home game ended with Morgan patiently walking the length of the grandstands, signing autographs and posing for photos.

Partly as a result, Morgan became one of the world’s most popular players and the USWNT has become the country’s most popular women’s national team. In Morgan’s first season, the team averaged less than 6,000 fans for eight home games; in her last full season, it drew more than three times as many.

“She’s grown into this role. I think she could see what it meant to the girls,” said her father Mike, one of her first coaches and still her greatest cheerleader.

Yet she did more to change the game off the field. She was a relentless and outspoken advocate for women’s sports, suing FIFA over its use of artificial turf fields in the 2015 World Cup, then serving as the lead plaintiff in the national team’s lawsuit against its own federation, one that led to a historic agreement with U.S. Soccer to pay the men’s and women’s national teams equally.

Once U.S. Soccer’s “it girl,” as likely to land on the cover of Sports Illustrated in a swimsuit as in a soccer kit, Morgan, matured into a two-time selection for Time magazine’s 100 most influential people.

“Her impact has been beyond medals and trophies,” Ellis added. “Her legacy to the game will be the doors she helped open and the young players she inspired.”

But like all great players, Morgan couldn’t outrun time. After taking time off to give birth to Charlie, Morgan had to earn her way back on to the national team for the Tokyo Olympics. A year later she had her last dominant international performance, scoring a tournament-best three goals — including the game winner in the final against Canada — to lead the U.S. to the CONCACAF W championship in Mexico.

That year she also won her first NWSL Golden Boot, scoring a league-leading 15 goals. But hampered by injuries and poor form, she has scored just 10 times for club and country in the last two years, getting shut out in last summer’s World Cup and failing to make the roster for this summer’s Olympics, the first major tournament she’s missed since 2008.

In her absence, forwards Mallory Swanson, Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith — none of whom is older than 26 — combined for 10 goals to give the U.S. its first Olympic title since 2012. The torch, Morgan acknowledged, had been passed.

In her retirement video, which she ended by thanking the fans, Morgan touched on her coming transition from soccer superstar to soccer mom and the role she played in opening that door.

“Charlie came up to me the other day and said that when she grows up she wants to be a soccer player,” Morgan said. “It just made me immensely proud. Not because I wish for her to be a soccer player when she grows up, but because a pathway exists that even a 4-year-old can see now.

“We’re changing lives. The impact we have on the next generation is irreversible, and I’m proud in the hand I had in making that happen and pushing the game forward and leaving it in a place that I’m both happy and proud of.”