Rockies secure 23rd victory with dramatic ninth-inning rally against Angels
Hunter Goodman’s three-run homer and TJ Rumfield’s sacrifice fly cap five-run eighth as Colorado edges Los Angeles 9-8 on Monday night.
The Colorado Rockies secured their 23rd win of the season on Monday night in Anaheim, California, defeating the Los Angeles Angels 9-8 in a contest that featured significant momentum shifts. The victory marks a statistical milestone for the Rockies, surpassing their total win count prior to the All-Star break last year. The game concluded with a dramatic ninth-inning sequence, following a pivotal five-run eighth inning that shifted the lead from Los Angeles to Colorado.
The Angels established an early advantage in the third inning, highlighted by Jose Siri hitting his second career grand slam to put Los Angeles ahead 5-2. Jo Adell added an RBI single in the same frame. Colorado responded with a solo home run from Jake McCarthy, who finished 2 for 4 at the plate, including a double in the ninth that set the stage for the game-winning run. Troy Johnston plated the Rockies’ first run with an RBI single in the first inning, and Sterlin Thompson added an RBI single in the fifth to narrow the gap to 5-3.
The turning point arrived in the eighth inning when the Rockies mounted a five-run rally. Kyle Karros sparked the offensive surge with an RBI double, followed by an RBI single from Tyler Freeman. Hunter Goodman then extended the Colorado lead to 8-6 with his 14th home run of the season, a three-run drive over the left-field wall. The Angels refused to yield, with Jorge Soler hitting a two-run triple in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game at 8-8.
Pitching performances varied significantly across the lineup. Angels starter José Soriano pitched 4 2/3 innings, striking out seven batters but issuing a career-high seven walks and hitting two batters. He became the first Angels pitcher to issue seven free passes in a game since Garrett Richards in September 2013. For Colorado, Kyle Freeland allowed six runs, five of them earned, and seven hits over 5 2/3 innings. Relief pitcher Antonio Senzatela secured the win by pitching 1 2/3 scoreless innings, improving his record to 5-0.
The game ended when TJ Rumfield hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly to right field in the ninth, driving in McCarthy. Kirby Yates (0-1) took the loss after giving up the go-ahead run. Looking ahead, the Rockies are scheduled to face the Angels on Tuesday, with Tomoyuki Sugano (4-4, 4.01 ERA) set to start against Angels right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (2-1, 7.53 ERA).
