Chase Dollander wins his major league debut as Rockies top Athletics 12-5

DENVER (AP) — Chase Dollander won his major league debut with five solid innings, and the Colorado Rockies beat the Athletics 12-5 on Sunday, snapping a six-game skid.

Dollander (1-0), the ninth overall pick in 2023, gave up a two-run homer to Tyler Soderstrom in the first inning but worked out of a jam in the fourth. He benefited from Colorado’s first big offensive game of the season.

Brenton Doyle homered, doubled, singled and drove in four runs and Ezequiel Tovar tied a career-high with four hits and had three RBIs to help the Rockies salvage the finale of the three-game series.

Doyle led off the bottom of the first with a homer and drove in two more with a double in the second off Joey Estes (0-2). Kris Bryant doubled, singled and drove in his first run of the season as Colorado took a 6-2 lead after three innings.

Lawrence Butler led off the fifth with a homer off Dollander, but the right-hander retired the next three to end his day.

With the Rockies leading 6-2, Soderstrom and Jacob Wilson led off the fourth with singles to put runners on the corners. Miguel Andujar followed with an RBI single but Wilson was thrown out trying to go to third, and Dollander got out of the jam.

Colorado’s bullpen entered Sunday with a 7.71 ERA but allowed just one run in four innings. Jake Bird struck out five of six batters, Luis Peralta got an out on his only pitch and left when Brent Rooker’s liner hit him the back and Victor Vodnik got the final five outs for his first save.

RHP Luis Severino (0-1, 3.75 ERA) faces San Diego when the A’s open a six-game homestand on Monday. The Rockies continue their homestand on Tuesday when LHP Kyle Freeland (0-1, 2.13) faces the Milwaukee Brewers.

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Athletics' Brent Rooker reacts as he flies out against Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Victor Vodnik to end a baseball game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

CORRECTS BY REMOVING REFERENCE TO OAKLAND - Athletics' Lawrence Butler strikes out swinging against Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Jake Bird in the seventh inning of a baseball game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Chase Dollander heads to the dugout to make his first major league appearance in the first inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Chase Dollander, right, greets shortstop Ezequiel Tovar in the dugout in the second inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies' Brenton Doyle follows the flight of his double to drive in two runs off Athletics starting pitcher Joey Estes in the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Athletics' Tyler Soderstrom heads up the first-base line after connecting for a two-run home run off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Chase Dollander in the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Athletics starting pitcher Joey Estes works against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies' Ezequiel Tovar follows the flight of his RBI double off Athletics starting pitcher Joey Estes in the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies' Ezequiel Tovar, right, gestures to the dugout after reaching second base on an RBI double as Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson looks on in the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Chase Dollander delivers a pitch to the Athletics' Brent Rooker in the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies' Kris Bryant doubles against Athletics starting pitcher Joey Estes in the third inning of a baseball game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

VATICAN CITY (AP) — A convalescing Pope Francis greeted the crowd in St. Peter’s Square on Palm Sunday, wishing more than 20,000 faithful a “Happy Palm Sunday, Happy Holy Week," in yet another reassuring public sign of his recovery from a life-threatening battle with double pneumonia.

Many in the crowd reached out to touch Francis’ hand or garments as he was brought in a wheelchair down a ramp to the main altar, where he issued his brief greeting into a microphone. The 88-year-old pope was not wearing nasal tubes for supplemental oxygen, as he had during a similar appearance last Sunday.

On his way back to St. Peter’s Basilica from where he had emerged, Francis stopped to bless a rosary, and offered candy to a boy who greeted him.

The 88-year-old Francis is entering his fourth week of convalescence during which doctors have advised him to avoid crowds. While Francis is clearly eager to show he is feeling better, he has not spoken more than a few words in public as he recovers from a severe respiratory crisis that has labored his speech. The Vatican said it was waiting to advise on what role he may play in upcoming Holy Week events leading up to Easter Sunday.

It was his second time in St. Peter’s Square before a crowd since leaving the hospital, following last Sunday's unexpected appearance that thrilled the faithful. He also met privately with King Charles III and Queen Camilla this week, and made an impromptu tour of St. Peter’s Basilica, stopping to pray, and to thank a pair of restorers for their work on the basilica's masterpieces.

On Saturday, the eve of Holy Week, Francis went to the St. Mary Major Basilica in central Rome to pray privately before a favorite icon of the Virgin Mary, Salus Populi Romani. The basilica, which he typically visits before and after his foreign trips, was also his first stop after leaving the Gemelli hospital on March 23.

In the traditional Sunday blessing, the pontiff thanked the faithful for their prayers. “At this time of physical weakness, they help me to feel God’s closeness, compassion and tenderness even more.” For the ninth week, including his five-week hospitalization starting Feb. 14, the blessing was delivered as a text.

The pope offered prayers for those suffering in the conflict in Sudan, which marks its second anniversary on Tuesday, and for Lebanon, where civil war began 50 years ago, as well as for peace in Ukraine, the Middle East, Congo, Myanmar and South Sudan.

In a prepared Palm Sunday homily read by a top Vatican cardinal, Francis urged the faithful to carry the cross “of those who suffer around us” to mark the start of the solemn Holy Week.

Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, vice dean of the College of Cardinals, led the celebrations, leading a procession of cardinals around the piazza’s central obelisk carrying an ornately braided palm that recalls Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem, when crowds waved palm branches to honor him.

The initial welcome contrasts with the suffering that follows, leading up to his crucifixion, which Christians observe on Good Friday, followed by his resurrection, celebrated on Easter Sunday.

The faithful emerged from St. Peter's Square carrying blessed palm fronds or olive branches to mark the occasion. While the pope's appearance was widely expected, pilgrims acknowledged some concern that gusts of wind might keep him from entering the square.

“There was a bit of worry when a few drops fell and it was windy but then at the end he surprised us and it was a really great emotion,'' said Luigi Mighali. "I think his words, ‘Happy Holy Week and Happy Palm Sunday,' moved everyone.''

Yesica Andagua, a Peruvian nun, said she was gratified to see the pope doing so well.

"The truth is that it has given me a lot of joy, at least for me, to see that he is getting better and may he get better soon, God willing,” she said.

Video journalist Francesco Sportelli contributed.

Monsignor Massimiliano Matteo Boiardi holds the microphone for Pope Francis as he wishes happy Palm Sunday and Easter Festivities to the faithful who attended the mass on Palm Sunday in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Francis arrives at the end of the mass on Palm Sunday in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Francis arrives at the end of the mass on Palm Sunday in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Monsignor Massimiliano Matteo Boiardi, left, holds the microphone for Pope Francis as he wishes happy Palm Sunday and Easter Festivities to the faithful who attended the mass on Palm Sunday in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Faithfulget emotional as Pope Francis arrives at the end of the mass on Palm Sunday in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Francis arrives at the end of the mass on Palm Sunday in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Francis leaves at the end of the mass on Palm Sunday in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Francis arrives at the end of the mass on Palm Sunday in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Francis arrives at the end of the mass on Palm Sunday in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Francis arrives at the end of the mass on Palm Sunday in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Faithful get emotional as Pope Francis arrives at the end of the mass on Palm Sunday in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Francis arrives at the end of the mass on Palm Sunday in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Francis arrives at the end of the mass on Palm Sunday in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Francis arrives at the end of the mass on Palm Sunday in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)