The struggling Colorado Rockies have finally broken their painful MLB record of losing streaks, bringing an end to 22 consecutive series defeats that traced back to the previous season. A tense 3-2 win against the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night, emphasized by Hunter Goodman’s third home run in just two games, ensured Colorado’s triumph. With two back-to-back victories against the Marlins, the Rockies clinched their first series win since capturing two out of three games from the Arizona Diamondbacks in Denver last September.
“That was monumental for the team, securing our first series victory,” Rockies interim manager Warren Schaeffer expressed. “Nobody expected it to take this long, until June. But the timing is right. I’m thrilled for the boys.” Colorado, currently marking the worst record in the major leagues at 11-50, has only recorded consecutive wins for the second time this year, following their victories against Atlanta on April 30 and San Francisco thereafter. They hope to achieve a series sweep during their concluding game against the Marlins on Wednesday.
Goodman noted the team’s recent effort as “more encouraging than discouraging.” “After a tough start this year, just staying competitive and having a shot to win beats not being in the game at all,” he commented. His teammates were unfazed by Goodman’s vital contribution in delivering the Rockies’ first series win of the year. “He’s absolutely on fire, and when he’s like this, he’s among the finest batters in the league,” centerfielder Brenton Doyle remarked to Rockies.tv. “I wish he can keep this up. It’s great, he’s a close friend, and that was fantastic.”
Reliever Seth Halvorsen achieved his third save, narrowly escaping after Heriberto Hernández launched a deep hit nearly 400 feet to left-center field, only for Doyle to make a running catch at the wall, sealing the game. “Honestly, I thought that was a home run at first contact,” Schaeffer candidly admitted. “But in the end, it wasn’t, so it all worked out. Having Doyle in center field is incredible.”
Omitting one-game series, the Rockies join an unenviable list, becoming the fourth team since MLB’s 1961 expansion to endure 18 series before finally securing a win in a season. They share this dubious distinction with the 1987 San Diego Padres, the 1969 Montreal Expos, and the 1962 Washington Senators, who each nabbed their first series win 19 series into their respective seasons.
The Rockies arrived in Miami following a 3-28 road record—the worst at that stretch of a season in over a hundred years. Until now, they hadn’t managed consecutive road wins since last September 5-6. “It’s refreshing to notch a couple of wins. Capturing that first series victory feels good,” concluded Schaeffer. “Now we just look ahead.”