MIAMI — In a thrilling contest, Hunter Goodman rose to the occasion, smashing two home runs to steer the Colorado Rockies to a 6-4 victory against the Miami Marlins on Monday night, putting an end to their unfortunate string of eight consecutive losses for the fourth time this season.
Despite the challenging season, this marked only the Rockies’ tenth win amidst 50 defeats, having endured the most difficult 60-game season start since modern records commenced in 1901. Comparable historical records include the 1904 Washington Senators and 1932 Boston Red Sox who started 11-49.
Goodman’s contributions commenced early as he registered a crucial two-out single off Miami’s Max Meyer. Thairo Estrada capitalized on this with an RBI double, providing the Rockies with an initial lead.
However, a falter at home plate charged Goodman with an error and enabled Miami to level the scores. Otto Lopez contributed with a run-scoring single, followed by a sacrifice fly from Eric Wagaman propelling the Marlins to a 3-1 lead. Jesús Sánchez furthered the gap in the second inning with his run-scoring double, bringing the score to 4-1.
Determined to reclaim the lead, Goodman homered in the third inning, and Tyler Freeman’s two-out RBI single in the fourth brought the Rockies within striking distance, narrowing Miami’s lead.
Ezequiel Tovar singled to start the fifth inning, and it was Goodman again who, with his ninth home run, turned the tide 5-4 in favor of Colorado.
The ninth inning witnessed Keston Hiura’s first hit with Colorado, a double that paved the way for Sam Hilliard’s one-out double to secure an additional, crucial insurance run.
Colorado’s Germán Márquez endured a stint yielding three earned runs on nine hits across five innings. Following him, the efforts of Jake Bird, Tyler Kinley, and Seth Halvorsen kept the Marlins scoreless until Zach Agnos closed out the ninth inning, earning his fourth save.
Miami pitcher Max Meyer struggled, conceding five runs — four of them earned — and 10 hits over his five innings on the mound.
The Marlins have found the opening stretch of their six-game homestand challenging, having dropped three of their last four games.
A pivotal moment unfolded in the ninth as Sánchez led with a single but was subsequently ousted at second following Agustín Ramírez’s pop fly. Zach Agnos then deftly secured the win for Colorado by inducing a game-ending double play from Kyle Stowers.
Noteworthy is Goodman’s towering presence this season, leading Colorado in both home runs and RBIs, presently totaling 34.
Looking ahead, the Marlins will pin their hopes on Sandy Alcantara (2-7, 8.47 ERA) as he takes the mound for the second game of the series on Tuesday. The Rockies have yet to announce their starting pitcher.