For twists, turns, climbs, dips, and screams, had nothing on the goings on at Angel Stadium Monday night.
The Rockies scored five runs in the eighth, powered by Hunter Goodman’s three-run homer, and scored the winning run in the ninth on a sacrifice fly by TJ Rumfield to beat the Angels 9-8.
The victory marked the first time since July 16, 2016, at Atlanta’s Turner Field that the Rockies won a road game when trailing by three runs entering the eighth inning.
Monday night’s game was a sloppy affair. Colorado committed four errors, and Los Angeles pitchers issued 10 walks — including seven by starter Jose Soriano. Soriano also hit two batters.
Key moments: Colorado scored the go-ahead run in the ninth, combining a one-out single by Kyle Karros, a double by Jake McCarthy (2 for 4, a solo homer, two walks), and Rumfield’s sacrifice fly.
Colorado’s five-run eighth included back-to-back doubles by Sterlin Thompson and Kyle Karros to open the inning, and an RBI single by Tyler Freeman. But Goodman’s three-run blast off right-hander Jose Fermin was the game-saving at-bat.
Goodman has hit 14 homers, with 10 coming on the road, where he’s hitting .265. At Coors Field, he’s hit just four homers with a .204 average.
Who’s hot: Thompson and Karros both hit 2 for 4 from the bottom of the order. Karros is coming off a homestand in which he hit .375 (3 for 8) with a double and a home run.
Who’s not: Left-hander Kyle Freeland, who got the start and gave up seven runs (six earned) on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings. Freeland, who has an 8.06 ERA over 10 starts, pitched better than he has of late, but the Angels tagged him for five hits in their five-run third, including a grand slam by Jose Siri.
Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, who hit two home runs on Friday against the Giants, including his first career walk-off home run, had a rough night on Monday, striking out five times in five at-bats.
Worth noting: Welinton Herrera’s rookie season is over. The lefty reliever has suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow and will require Tommy John surgery. Herrera pitched only 2 1/3 innings this season. Colorado No. 14 prospect (MLB Pipeline) was placed on the 15-day injured list on Saturday with elbow inflammation, but an MRI revealed a tear. He’s now on the 60-day IL.
Rockies manager Warren Schaefer told MLB.com on Monday that there is no timeline regarding surgery or recovery time for Herrera.
Pitching probables
Tuesday: Rockies RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (4-4, 4.01 ERA) at Angels RHP Grayson Rodriguez (2-1, 7.53), 7:38 p.m.
Wednesday: Rockies RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-7, 7.22) at Angels RHP Walbert Urena (2-4, 2.44), 7:38 p.m.
Thursday: Off day
TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM
