Jake McCarthy hit a bases-loaded triple down the left-field line off closer Aroldis Chapman to lift the Rockies to a wild, redemptive, 3-2 win over the Red Sox.

“I was just trying to put it into play,” said McCarthy, who connected on Chapman’s 99.6 mph sinker. “I wanted anything but a strikeout or a double play ball. I was just looking for a good pitch to hit.”

The Rockies connected on eight consecutive hits off Boston relievers Garrett Whitlock and Chapman over the last two innings to pull out the victory, although baserunning errors in the eighth appeared to have cost Colorado the game.  According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Colorado is the first team since at least 1961 — when the expansion era began — with eight hits in their final eight plate appearances of a game.

The winning rally began with rookie first baseman TJ Rumfield steering Chapman’s 0-2, 85.3 mph slider into left field. Then Hunter Goodman hit a solid single to left, and rookie Cole Carrigg put down a nifty bunt between the mound and third for a base hit to load the bases.

Then came McCarthy’s moment.

“That was surreal, and it obviously hasn’t sunk in,” McCarthy said. “Off a great pitcher like that … it all happened so fast. I just want to give credit to my teammates. You saw the inning before, it was like five straight line drives.”

Monday’s victory gave the Rockies their third walk-off win of the season, and it was just the third time in franchise history that the Rockies won a nine-inning game in walk-off fashion when they entered the ninth inning with no runs. Also, Colorado improved to 11-10 in one-run games after going 18-23 in one-run games during last year’s 119-loss season.

“That was incredible,” Schaeffer said. “Eight straight hits to end the ball game there against two world-class pitchers, Whitlock and Chapman. I mean, they don’t quit. We’ve been saying it all year. We fight till the end, and tonight we got rewarded for it. I mean, just hats off, hats off to all of them.”

Jake McCarthy clears the bases with a WALK-OFF TRIPLE

— MLB (@MLB)

The ninth inning was pure redemption, because a Keystone Cops eighth inning was a baserunning disaster.

With one out and two men on, Edouard Julien was thrown out at plate trying to score on Willi Castro’s bloop single to centerfielder Ceddanne Rafaela. Julien got a green light from third base coach Andy Gonzalez, but Julien was thrown out by four steps.

Then Tyler Freeman singled to right. This time, Mickey Moniak got the stop sign at third from Gonzalez, but Castro motored past second base, got caught in no-man’s land and was easily thrown out.

Schaeffer was quick to defend Gonzalez. Asked if the third base coach should have held up Julien, Schaeffer said, “No, I’ll never say that. I coached third base in the big leagues for a couple years, and it’s an extremely hard job. I will never never say that. Rafaela made a perfect throw.”

Regarding Castro getting thrown out, Schaeffer said, “We just have to run with our heads up to see what’s going on.”

The wild ending came on the back of a tight pitcher’s duel.

Boston finally broke through against Rockies right-hander Ryan Feltner with two outs in the sixth. Wilyer Abreu reached on a low roller to third baseman Kyle Karros and Wilson Contreras ripped Feltner’s 2-2 fastball into the right-field corner to score Abreu. Feltner walked Jarren Darren, advancing Contreras to second, setting up Caleb Durbin’s run-scoring single to left.

Feltner rode a rollercoaster but pitched well enough for Colorado to win. He worked six innings, giving up two runs on four hits. He struck out two and walked four.

“I felt good, I was efficient and I felt like all of my stuff was working in the zone,” Feltner said. “I was not super-sharp in the beginning, but I was able to settle in.”

Feltner walked Mickey Gasper to open the game, but Gasper was erased on a double play. Then Feltner walked Abreu but got out of the inning unscathed when Contreras flew out to center fielder Cole Carrigg.

Colorado had no solution for Red Sox lefty Jake Bennett, who allowed just four hits (all singles), struck out nine and walked none. The Rockies’ mini-threat in the third was snuffed out by a diving catch in center by Rafaela. Karros hit a one-out single to left and Ezequiel Tovar followed with a dying line drive to center, but Rafaela made his catch for the second out. Castro lined out to center for the third out.

Pitching probables

Tuesday: Red Sox RHP Sonny Gray (8-1, 3.12, ERA) at Rockies LHP Sean Sullivan (0-1, 10.29), 6:40 p.m.
Wednesday: Red Sox LHP Ranger Suarez (3-3, 2.93) at Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (1-7, 7.36), 1:10 p.m.

TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM

Fulford hit a two-run, two-out, pinch-hit double in the eighth inning off Mason Montgomery to lead the Rockies to a 4-3 win over the Pirates at Coors Field in front of a Friday night crowd of 33,596.

Fulford drove in Tyler Freeman and Cole Carrigg, who scratched out back-to-back two-out singles off Montgomery.

“I had been warming up in the cage for that at-bat for a couple of innings, so I felt pretty prepared,” Fulford said. “I got an advantage count (3-1) and I knew he was going to come with the heater and I was all over it.”

Fulford caught Montgomery for three seasons at Texas Tech, so he knew the left-hander’s tendencies.

“It’s kind of unfortunate for pitchers that you catch, because you kind of get to see their stuff,” Fulford said. “You kind of understand more of who they are. So I do feel like I had the advantage there.”

In the ninth, the Pirates loaded the bases against Senzatela with no outs on a single by Marcell Ozuna and an error on a groundball by shortstop Ezequiel Tovar. But Senzatela struck out pinch-hitter Tyler Callihan and induced Jared Triolo to ground to Tovar, who started the game-ending double play.

“It was kind of a crazy ending to the game — bases loaded and no outs,” Freeland said. ” ‘Senza’ got a big punchout in that situation, picks up Tovar. Then Tovar gets another opportunity to turn a double play, and he gets it done.”

Before all of the late-game drama, Freeland pitched his best game of the season: 7 1/3 innings, two runs allowed on four hits, no walks, and eight strikeouts. It marked the fourth time in his career that he pitched 7 1/3 or more innings.

“Tonight, I thought he was absolutely exceptional,” manager Warren Schaeffer said. “I thought his body language was impressive. He attacked the strike zone — relentlessly. His heater had good ‘vert’ tonight. The breaker was good. It seemed like he was in control all night.”

“Gritty” is the word often used to describe Freeland. Dominant was a more apt description on Friday night. History-making works, too. Freeland’s eight Ks gave him 1,001 for his career, joining right-hander German Marquez (1,069) as the only two pitchers in franchise history to eclipse 1,000. Freeland struck out Marcell Ozuna in the seventh for No. 1,000, and then promptly fanned Brandon Lowe for 1,001.

The hard-core Rockies fans behind the dugout gave Freeland a standing ovation.

“I’m very grateful for the fans always supporting me, and for making it this long in my career to reach some of these milestones, especially with one ballclub,”  said Freeland, who struck out eight and walked none for the second time in his career. “I definitely hear those fans when I pop out of the dugout after every inning.”

The 33-year-old Denver native blanked the Pirates for the first seven innings, giving up just two hits. Pittsburgh finally got to Freeland in the eighth, putting up back-to-back doubles by Esmerlyn Valdez and Triolo to cut Colorado’s lead to 2-1. Up to that point, it looked as if Freeland had the juice to throw a complete game, especially since he threw just 81 pitches.

Freeland was pulled in the eighth for right-hander Jaden Hill, who gave up an RBI single up the middle to pinch-hitter Bryan Reynolds, tying the game, 2-2. Then Hill hit leadoff hitter Spencer Horowitz, and Nick Gonzalez scorched a triple off the right-field wall, scoring Horowitz and giving the Pirates a 3-2 lead.

Colorado staked a 1-0 lead in the third against hard-throwing right-hander Bubba Chandler. Willi Castro’s single scored Ezequiel Tovar, who reached on a bunt single.

The Rockies extended their lead to 2-0 in the fourth on rookie first baseman TJ Rumfield’s leadoff homer. He sent Chandler’s first-pitch slider 427 feet into the right-field seats. It was Rumfield’s 11th homer and his 38th RBI.

Pitching probables

Saturday: Pirates RHP Paul Skenes (6-6, 2.85 ERA) at Rockies RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (7-4, 4.54), 7:10 p.m.
Sunday: Pirates RHP Jared Jones (1-1, 6.23) at Rockies RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-8, 7.13), 1:10 p.m.
TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM

The Rockies rode rookie first baseman TJ Rumfield’s two-run home run in the fourth inning to beat the Cubs 5-2 and snap a 10-game losing streak at Wrigley Field.

Colorado’s bullpen, which suffered a nightmarish meltdown in a 5-4 loss to the Cubs on Monday night, delivered 4 1/3 scoreless innings, and Jaden Hill pitched a perfect ninth to record his first career save.

Key moments: The fourth inning was huge. Trailing 2-0, Colorado got a leadoff single from Jake McCarthy, an RBI double from Willi Castro, and Rumfield’s homer to take a lead it didn’t relinquish.

Who’s hot: Outfielder Jake McCarthy, finally healthy after a stomach illness, hit 3 for 4 and scored a run in the fourth. He’s hitting .291 with a .784 OPS.

Starter Ryan Feltner rebounded from a poor start in his last game and a rocky start on Tuesday night to put Colorado in a position to win. The right-hander gave up two runs on six hits, with three walks and seven strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings.

In Colorado’s 9-3 loss to the Cubs at Coors Field last week, he gave up six runs on four hits across 4 1/3 innings. Tuesday night, Feltner served up a leadoff homer to sizzling-hot Pete Crow-Armstrong and gave up another run in the second before settling in.

Rookie center fielder Cole Carrigg made a terrific catch in center field in the eighth, going into the ivy to rob Michael Busch of extra bases.

Who’s not: Carrigg, at the plate. He went 0 for 3 with three strikeouts, though he did draw a walk and steal second base in the eighth.

Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar continues to play excellent defense, but his struggles at the plate continue. He went 0 for 3 with a K, though he did draw a walk and score a run in the fifth. Tovar has struck out at least once in 16 straight games, the second-longest streak of his career. He fanned in 18 consecutive games from Aug. 8-29, 2024.

Worth noting: Outfielder Mickey Moniak is on the road back from injury. He’s been on the 10-day injured list since May 22 with right ankle tendinitis, but he’s making progress. He’s scheduled for Triple-A Albuquerque rehab games on Thursday through Saturday. He’ll return to Denver on June 21 to be evaluated by the medical staff, manager Warren Schaeffer told reporters in Chicago.

Pitching probables

Wednesday: Rockies LHP Sean Sullivan (0-0, 0.00 ERA) at Cubs RHP Javier Assad (4-1, 3.99), 6:05 p.m.
Thursday: Off day
Friday: Pirates RHP Bubba Chandler (2-7, 4.76) at Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (1-7, 7.98), 6:40 p.m.
Saturday: Pirates RHP Paul Skenes (6-6, 2.85) at Rockies RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (7-4, 4.79), 7:10 p.m.
TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM

Monday night at Wrigley Field, they wasted a fantastic game by rookie Cole Carrigg and lost 5-4 to the Cubs on a walk-off walk by Matt Shaw off reliever Seth Halvorsen.

The ninth inning was a Titanic-like disaster for the Rockies, who walked nine — count ’em, nine –in a game that was perhaps the worst loss of the season. Juan Mejia issued a leadoff walk to Seiya Suzuki and then threw the ball into centerfield for an error on Ian Happ’s grounder back to the mound. Mejia packed the bases by walking Nico Hoerner.

Enter Halvorsen, who gave up an RBI single to Pedro Ramirez, tying the game 4-4. Then Halvorsen walked Shaw, and the Rockies lost their 10th consecutive game at Wrigley.

Before the Rockies literally threw a victory away, it was a dramatic, entertaining evening.

The Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong hit for the cycle, but the dynamic Carrigg nearly eclipsed him.

Carrigg, who drove in all of Colorado’s runs and hit a three-run home run in the eighth. Carrigg drove lefty Caleb Thielbar’s 0-1 fastball 401 feet to left for what looked to be the game-winner. Since making his big-league debut last Tuesday, Carrigg has hit 7 for 27 with three home runs, one triple, and eight RBIs in seven games.

Armstrong’s “reverse cycle” was extremely rare — just the 11th in the Modern Era (since 1900). He hit a leadoff homer in the first, a triple in the third, a double in the fifth, and a single in the seventh. He added a sacrifice fly in the eighth.

Key moments: There were almost too many to count.

The craziest arrived moments after Crow-Armstrong clinched his cycle. As the Cubs fans cheered him, he promptly got picked off first base by Colorado lefty Brennan Bernardino.

The Cubs broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth on a two-out RBI triple to right by Shaw off right-hander Antonio Senzatela. Shaw drove in Moises Ballesteros, who drew a two-out walk from Senzatela. Shaw’s triple touched down in the extreme right-field corner. The Rockies challenged the call, believing that the ball was foul, but to no avail.

Chicago threatened to blow the game open in the seventh, loading the bases with one out when reliever Jaden Hill walked Seiya Suzuki, but Hill buckled down and struck out Ian Happ and Nico Hoerner.

The Rockies tied the game, 1-1, in the sixth when Carrigg put together a terrific, eight-pitch at-bat to draw a bases-loaded walk to score Tyler Freeman.

Who’s hot: Rockies starter Michael Lorenzen, who has struggled much of the season, put together his second solid game in a row. The right-hander pitched five innings, allowed one run, walked one, and struck out five. His one big mistake came on his fourth pitch of the game, a 2-1 cutter that Crow-Armstrong walloped 434 feet to center.

Who’s not: Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar went 0 for 2 with a strikeout, and his average sits at .217. He was removed for pinch-hitter Troy Johnston in the sixth, and Carrigg moved from center field to shortstop.

Worth noting: Cubs lefty starter Shota Imanago was not invincible after all. He was charged with a run in the sixth inning, even though it was reliever Phil Maton who hit Carrigg to drive in a run. Imanago entered Monday’s game having made two career starts vs. the Rockies, including last Wednesday at Coors Field when he pitched five scoreless innings, striking out seven. He also faced the Rockies on April 1, 2024, when he made his major league debut. He pitched six scoreless innings at Wrigley Field, striking out nine in a 5-0 Cubs victory.

Pitching probables

Tuesday: Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (2-2, 5.20 ERA) at Cubs RHP Edward Cabrera (4-3, 4.86), 6:05 p.m.
Wednesday: Rockies LHP Sean Sullivan (0-0, 0.00) at Cubs RHP Javier Assad (4-1, 3.99), 6:05 p.m.
Thursday: Off day

The Rockies no longer embarrass themselves with split-squad spring training lineups or pitchers who need a compass to find the strike zone. It had grown so odorous, seven straight losing seasons, three consecutive with 100 losses. The spectacular failure was made worse by leadership hilariously trying to camouflage incompetence with arrogance.

The on-field product has made strides. The Rockies entered Saturday 26-44. They did not reach this win total last season until July 23 when they were 26-76.

It makes me think the 2027 or 2028 Purple Rox could become the 2026 Chicago White Sox.

All of which means nothing.

And the best thing is that the new front office recognizes this.

“In general, there has been some improvement. But, we have to be realistic. We have a ways to go,” general manager Josh Byrnes told The Post. “We have to get better, create something sustainable and maintain high standards as we chase that.”

Approaching the midpoint of the season, the Rockies are likable and watchable. They are in such a better place that it is easy to forget the mountains left to climb. Colorado is on pace for 60 wins. The fact that number is encouraging provides a reminder of how awful things had become.

Crowing about avoiding 100 losses is like bragging about being valedictorian when home-schooled.

It is why Byrnes was reluctant to acknowledge the inching forward.

Truth is: what have they done?

There are pockets of success that should not be ignored, like first baseman T.J. Rumfield’s rookie-of-the-year candidacy, Antonio Senzatela’s remarkable conversion from MLB’s worst starter to a dominant reliever, Willi Castro’s versatility and Cole Carrigg’s caffeinated energy, his promotion a reflection of the organization’s emphasis on swing decisions that will translate to the big leagues — 15 % strikeout rate, 11 % walk rate in Triple-A.

Of course, there is the gnashing of teeth about the pitching. The Rockies play at altitude and, at times, without gravity.

The historically strong April for the rotation seems like forever ago because of injuries to Chase Dollander — he is likely facing UCL surgery in his right elbow — and Jose Quintana (elbow) and the Coors Field fatigue of Kyle Freeland.

Sean Sullivan provided a jolt in his big league debut on Friday, but it is hardly soothing balm on this headache.

Forget Byrnes and president Paul DePodesta; Connie Mack and Branch Rickey were not fixing the Rockies overnight.

But the franchise belongs to the new leaders, and it is time for them to flex their muscles.

The trade deadline is not until Aug. 3, but there is little to be gained by waiting.

Other than catcher Hunter Goodman and Dollander, no player should be untouchable.

The Rockies have started calling around, piecing together potential fits and wants, aiming to accelerate Colorado’s return to contention.

“We are constantly in touch with other teams. The brainstorming is constant. Some are more motivated than others,” Byrnes said.

Byrnes showed shrewdness in acquiring Rumfield for forgettable reliever Angel Chivilli. They recently landed minor league reliever Andrew Baker from the Phillies for international bonus pool space. Don’t be surprised if the right-hander is in the big leagues in a few months.

Moves of all sizes must be considered and executed over the next seven weeks. This is why DePodesta and Byrnes were hired. They have friends across baseball who will actually take their calls.

The biggest chip is shortstop Ezequiel Tovar. He has $50 million remaining on his contract after this season. That cost certainty is the reason for not dealing him, and why he could land a haul of prospects if the acquiring club believes he will hit.

It is obvious Senzatela will be dealt. Getting a future major league piece back is paramount.

If somebody wants to overpay for Seth Halvorsen so the Rockies get two relievers like him, pull the lever.

Mickey Moniak provides professional at-bats and power. But the timing could be right to move him for a legitimate prospect given the way Charlie Condon and Zac Veen are pushing the envelope in Triple-A. Or keep Moniak and package Veen as part of a bigger deal.

Nobody wants to sell low on center fielder Brenton Doyle, but contenders covet defense. Colorado has to listen.

The Rockies’ leaders don’t have all the answers. I prefer those making decisions have fallibility and humility. It makes their efforts thorough and exhaustive, adjectives long a stranger on Blake Street.

The deadline and the July draft are the touchstones for overhauling a franchise. For too long in Colorado, they brought dread, inactivity and embarrassment, or all of the above.

It is on these front office executives to change the narrative.

Their knowledge, their experience, their willingness to take chances on deals and waiver claims, like Troy Johnston, will be needed to revive a franchise that has made ignoring baseball a local pastime.

The job started in the winter. But the real work begins now, where right moves can put the Rockies on the White Sox’s trajectory. Chicago went 41-121 and 60-102 over the past two seasons, and is on pace to finish 88-74 this year.

Rox to Sox? That works.

“You can get out of it. Detroit kind of flipped it. Miami is doing better. Baltimore tanked and turned it around,” Byrnes said. “And the White Sox are showing what can happen with savvy moves. We have made progress, but we are nowhere near where we want and need to be.”

Just when you think the Rockies’ talented right-hander is going to solidify his place as the anchor of the rotation, there’s a glitch.

Case in point: Colorado’s 9-3 loss to the Cubs on Thursday afternoon at Coors Field, which prevented the Rockies from completing a three-game sweep. The Rockies, however, have won three of their last four series.

Feltner set the Cubs down in order in the first three innings. At that point, he had retired 22 consecutive batters, dating back to his last start vs. Milwaukee. But Pete Crow-Armstrong led off the fourth with a single, Michael Bush added a one-out single, and Feltner walked Ian Happ to load the bases.

Then came Feltner’s big mistake — a hanging 1-0 slider to Seiya Suzuki, who rocketed a 400-foot grand slam into a mass of Cubs fans in the left-field bleachers.

“I was just struggling with feel on the ball,” said Feltner, who pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing six runs on four hits and three walks. His ERA rose from 4.22 to 5.20.

Manager Warren Schaeffer said that Feltner’s command “escaped him” in the fourth inning, but added that “sometimes the balls tend to get a little slick sometimes here at altitude.”

“But that’s not an excuse,” Schaeffer added.

Entering Thursday, Feltner had made two quality starts in a row after coming off a five-week stint on the disabled list with inflammation of the ulnar nerve in his right elbow. But he wasn’t sharp on Thursday, and his frustration showed on the mound.

“I pride myself on trying to keep the team in the game, regardless of what’s going on with me,” Feltner said. “I wouldn’t say my frustration got in the way of execution. It was more of a frustration after the fact.”

Even though he set down the first nine Chicago hitters he faced, Feltner said he never had great command.

“I didn’t have any of my pitches today,” he said. “The first three innings, I felt OK … my stuff was serviceable. But I was falling behind in counts. I also felt like I was getting lucky because I was falling behind and that all showed up in the fourth.”

A glance at the game’s linescore would suggest a closer game. The Rockies outhit the Cubs, 12-10, and both teams hit three home runs. The difference was Suzuki’s grand slam, and Alex Bregman’s two-run blast off Blas Castano in the seventh.

All of Colorado’s homers were solo shots: two by catcher Brett Sullivan (the first multi-homer day of his career), and a 418-foot homer to right by rookie center fielder Cole Carrigg in the fourth off of Chicago starter Edward Cabrera. It was Carrigg’s first big-league homer, and it came in his third big-league game.

“I got down 0-2 early and chased a couple of pitches … but had a couple of good takes after that, and he hung a 3-2 slider and I put a good swing on that,” said Carrigg, who joined outfielder Brad Hawpe (2004) as the only two Rockies to have a triple and home run through their first three career games.

Colorado had a prime opportunity to get back into the game in the sixth inning. Trailing 6-2 at the time, the Rockies loaded the bases with one out but failed to score. Kyle Karros flew out to shallow right field, and the Cubs right-hander struck out Ezequiel Tovar on an 0-2 breaking ball.

Tovar, who fanned three times Thursday, is hitting .211 with a .591 OPS. With runners in scoring position, he’s hitting .147. Tovar’s struggles with breaking balls down and away continue to be a problem.

“I think that’s always been kind of his deal because that’s a tough pitch for him to hit,” Schaeffer said. “But he’s been working non-stop on that. But you have seen him hit some homers on hanging breaking balls. But listen, a slider down and away is a tough pitch for anybody to hit. It’s part of his development.”

Pitching probables

Friday: Rockies TBA at A’s LHP Gage Jump (2-1, 2.45 ERA), 8:05 p.m.
Saturday: Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (1-6, 7.81) at A’s LHP Jeffrey Springs (3-6, 4.68), 8:05 p.m.
Sunday: Rockies RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (6-4, 4.08) at A’s RHP J.T. Ginn (4-3, 3.15), 1:05 p.m.
TV: Rockies TV
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM

The Rockies never let the Chicago into the game, and the usual chants of “Let’s go Cubbies!” that envelop Coors Field were muted and infrequent.

Carrigg, making his major league debut, electrified the crowd in the fifth inning with a triple down the right field line. The speed that made him such a fan favorite at Triple-A Albuquerque was on full display as he rounded first, blew around second, and slid headfirst into third for his first major league hit.

“I wouldn’t want it any other way than to have a triple for my first one,” said the 24-year-old, whose grimy jersey was covered with dirt and shaving cream, and soaked with beer after a postgame victory shower. “I love pushing it and going for three. It’s the best feeling in the world. It was awesome.”

Manager Warren Schaeffer thought so, too.

“Just pure joy,” Schaeffer said. “It couldn’t have been a better first hit for a player like that. Super exciting, just watching him run around the bases like a young colt. Impressive. Fun. Happy for him, happy for his folks, and for all the people who came to watch him. That was vintage Cole Carrigg.”

Carrigg joined Ryan Ritter (June 6, 2025 vs. the Mets) as one of only two Rockies to record a triple in their first big-league game, and also the only two Rockies players to record a triple as their first major league hit.

The Rockies staked an early lead on Goodman’s two-run, opposite-field homer in the first off right-hander Colin Rea. Goodman has 18 home runs, the most for a catcher in franchise history before the All-Star break. He broke his own record of 17, set last season.

Goodman usually pulls the ball when he hits home runs, but he said he’s been trying to make some adjustments with his swing.

“I’ve been working on some stuff in the cage, hitting fastballs,” said Goodman, who has homered in five of his last seven games. “I’ve been struggling to hit four-seam (fastballs) more than I have in the past. I have been doing a lot of work on that.

“I wasn’t trying to go ‘oppo’ on purpose, but I got a pretty good pitch to hit on 0-2, and it worked out. I put a good swing on it … went with it.”

Tovar led off the second with a 433-foot missile to left-center, his fourth homer of the season.

Edouard Julien, who’s broken out of a deep May slump, went 2 for 3 with a double and drove in three runs.

Sugano did what he’s been doing: provided a solid foundation and put Colorado in a position to win. The veteran right-hander pitched five-plus innings, yielding three runs on six hits. He walked two and struck out three.

He was not very efficient, needing 93 pitches (54 strikes) and falling behind in a lot of counts, in part because the Cubs weren’t biting on split-finger. But he never let the game spin out of control, as so many Colorado starters have done lately.

“They were taking my splitter down, but on the other hand, I was able to throw my two-seamer and four-seamer well, and that was really helpful,” said Sugano, who improved to 6-4.

He became the first Rockies starter to notch at least six wins in their first 13 starts with the club since Kyle Freeland, German Marquez, and Antonio Senzatela all did it in 2017.

“Maybe some abnormaly deep counts for  ‘Tomo’ tonight, but he made pitches when he had to,” Schaeffer said. “I thought his slider was really good tonight. He gave us a chance to win, as he always does.”

Sugano did lose his edge in the sixth when Chicago leadoff hitter Michael Busch led off with a 424-foot homer to left. Busch ripped a 3-2 fastball left over the middle of the plate and high in the zone. When Sugano subsequently gave up a single to Alex Bregman, Sugano’s night was done.

Colorado’s bullpen, a disaster area of late, put the Cubs away with relative ease. Four Colorado relievers — Seth Halvoren,  Brennan Bernardino, Antonio Senzatela and Jaden Hill — were charged with no runs and gave up only two hits.

During their last four games at Coors, Colorado’s bullpen had allowed 35 earned runs, the most earned runs allowed in a four-game span at home in franchise history. The 35 earned runs in a four-game span at home tied the most allowed by any major league team since earned runs became an official statistic (1912 National League, 1913 American League). The 1928 Phillies also allowed 35 earned runs from July 31 to  Aug. 4.

Pitching probables

Wednesday: Cubs LHP Shota Imanaga (4-6, 4.74 ERA) at Rockies RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-8, 8.01), 6:40 p.m.
Thursday: Cubs RHP Edward Cabrera (3-3, 4.99) at Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (2-1, 4.22), 1:10 p.m.
TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM

In his first three years in the majors — 237 games — the Rockies slugger stole a whopping three bases. In his time playing Triple-A minor league ball, he stole one. Two years of Double-A? One. High-A? One.

There was nothing to see here. Nobody was lamenting his lack of audacity on the base paths. Catchers can’t run, after all.

But Goodman can, he remembered recently. An All-Star in 2025 for his bat, he made noise with his legs last week, suddenly swiping two bags in as many games Wednesday and Friday. Somehow, that was the statistic that stuck out the most from a week in which he also clubbed three homers and drove in six runs. It was all part of a Rockies initiative that dates back to spring training — a common edict for losing teams looking for an edge.

“I move pretty well for a catcher, and one of the big things we’re trying to change is kind of creating some chaos on the base paths,” Goodman told The Denver Post before a 7-1 loss to the Brewers on Saturday. “Running a little better. Taking extra bases when we have the chance. So I think I run pretty well, and I think there’s opportunities out there for me to gain an extra base for the team. … I’m not gonna steal a base every game, but when there’s the opportunity, when a pitcher’s slow or when they’re not really paying attention, I feel like I have the ability to at least take advantage of that.”

Goodman aims to be a cunning thief. His sprint speed “could be better, could be worse,” he’ll readily admit. But he studies enough film of opposing pitchers — and inherently understands their cadences because of his own position — to feel confident picking his spots.

“I think it’s just watching video, seeing which guys are, I guess ‘gettable,’ you could say, for me and my speed,” the 26-year-old said. “I think it’s different for each guy, which guys you can swipe a bag on and which guys you kind of just stay at first and get a good secondary (lead). So I’m doing a little better job seeing that and realizing I don’t have to just stand at first on this guy.”

His latest heist was especially daring, at challenge used to one of the best catchers in the game at eliminating runners. The throw from Milwaukee’s William Contreras beat Goodman, but he evaded the tag and made it in safely with a smooth swim move.

“That the only chance I had,” Goodman said, “so I figured I’d just try it.”

It was his fifth stolen base in 58 games this season, one away from tripling the career total he brought into 2026.

It’ll never be his defining skill, but the Rockies want him to keep up the aggressive mindset. He’s realizing he can tap into a forgotten knack for running the bases freely that he possessed back in college, when he amassed 11 steals at Memphis in 2019 and nine more in 2021. He got away from that after entering the pros.

“Probably just me not focusing on it a ton and not really feeling comfortable doing it,” Goodman said. “But the more you do it, the more you get comfortable with it, and the better you get at it.

“I stole a decent amount in college. … So I think it’s great. I think getting to second is a big deal, especially in a ballpark like (Coors Field) where there are a lot of hits out there — getting to second base, giving that next guy an opportunity to get a single and drive in a run, versus having to put one in the gap.”

Goodman could be bound for a second consecutive All-Star Game next month. He ranked fourth in the National League with 16 home runs as of Saturday, on pace for another 30-homer season. He forced extra innings with a solid piece of situational hitting Friday, a ninth-inning RBI sacrifice fly. He’s 13th in the NL in slugging (.514) despite a downtick in average and on-base percentage from last year.

To some extent, that’s the cost of being one of the most aggressive swingers in Colorado’s lineup. He’s working on maintaining control of that aggression, on harnessing it for good.

Meanwhile, he’s also trying to apply the same trait on the base paths.

“We want that to be a big part of our identity,” manager Warren Schaeffer said. “… Our three catchers can all run, which is abnormal. And we need to take advantage of that. Goody’s been doing a really good job of doing that.”

To bunt or not to bunt

Colorado’s home stand began with a thriller Friday night that tested Schaeffer’s philosophy in a situation that will come up often in the future. In the ninth and 10th innings of an eventual 9-7 loss, the Rockies had runners at first and second base with nobody out and a two-run deficit. Both times, they elected not to try moving the runners over with a bunt.

“Every situation is different,” Schaeffer said Saturday. “My natural inclination as a manager always — almost always — is to bunt.”

But these were not “natural” scenarios, from Schaeffer’s perspective. Down 5-3 in the ninth, he chose to swing away because the batter was Jake McCarthy — “arguably our hottest hitter right now,” the manager said. “There’s a lot of grass out there in the outfield. And it’s a great chance to score multiple runs with him up. And you hate to bunt with your best hitter at the moment.”

In the 10th, Colorado cut a 9-5 deficit in half before Milwaukee could record an out. The tying runners were on base. The batter was Brett Sullivan this time.

“An obvious candidate to bunt, no doubt about it,” Schaeffer acknowledged in hindsight. “But the situation for me dictated, (Brewers reliever Aaron) Ashby was having a very, very difficult time throwing strikes. And to give up an out (by bunting) when that’s occurring, I’m not crazy about it. Especially when you have a chance to win the game. If you bunt there, you’re basically saying, ‘We’re trying to tie the game here.’ I thought it was a great opportunity for us to try to win the game. Sully’s been good against left-handed pitching as well.”

So the Rockies took their chances. Sullivan grounded into a double play. Their rally stalled out.

“Obviously, the worst thing possible happened,” Schaeffer said. “Sometimes that happens. But the process of thinking about it was correct, I think.”

In the sixth, Colorado’s right fielder got burned by one.

Tyler Freeman left Saturday’s game after he was hit in the head by a pitch from the 24-year-old Brewers ace Misiorowski.

Freeman, 27, crumpled to the ground after the pitch plunked his helmet, eliciting a gasp from the announced attendance of 30,320 at Coors Field. Rockies trainers tended to him, and he was eventually able to walk off the field after being helped to his feet.

“He took it about as good as I think anybody can take 101 (miles per hour) off the helmet,” Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer said. “Obviously, it didn’t feel good, but he seems fine.”

Freeman is hitting .273 this season with a .725 OPS. There was no mention of a possible concussion by Schaeffer, who seemed unconcerned about Freeman’s availability.

“You just hate to see it,” Rockies third baseman Kyle Karros said. “I feel horrible for ‘Free,’ and then I also feel horrible for ‘Miz.’ I saw that he was beating himself up over that. But it’s baseball, at the end of the day. You hate to see it, but it’s part of it.”

Misiorowski, who’s emerged as a National League Cy Young award candidate, was visibly upset after the pitch. He put his hands on his knees and turned away from the plate to collect himself as Freeman was examined. Then he proceeded to steer himself out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam. Troy Johnston flew out to shallow left field. Ezequiel Tovar followed with a groundout to end the threat. The Brewers escaped with a 2-1 lead intact.

They scored three insurance runs the next inning to secure an eventual 7-1 win.

“Usually if you’re gonna get an opportunity (to beat) a guy like that, a front line guy, it’s gonna be, you’re usually gonna get one shot at it. Have to cash in,” Schaeffer said. “I mean, we had him right where he wanted him. … Right where we want to be. Just didn’t cash in tonight.”

Misiorowski gave up only one unearned run, which Colorado scored in the fifth after a two-base throwing error by Brewers shortstop Joey Ortiz. Misiorowski struck out eight and allowed four hits, lowering his ERA to 1.50 in 13 starts.

“We were trying to attack the heater,” Schaeffer said. “… You know he’s gonna throw a bunch of them. And you don’t wait a guy like that out. You attack.”

The 6-foot-7 right-hander was backed up by five solo home runs. Milwaukee second baseman Brice Turang hit two of them, including one to open the scoring off Zach Agnos. William Contreras, David Hamilton and Jake Bauers contributed the others. Colorado (24-41) used five pitchers, starting with three innings and two earned runs from Zach Agnos. The 25-year-old was coming off consecutive outings with seven runs surrendered.

Blas Castaño was a bright spot for the Rockies. He relieved Agnos with 2 1/3 scoreless frames, one deadly pick-off move to erase a leadoff walk and several animated celebrations. It was his second straight two-inning appearance without allowing a run, bringing his ERA down to 3.45. When manager Warren Schaeffer removed him in the sixth, Castaño received a smattering of applause and tipped his hat to the crowd on his way to the dugout as if responding to a standing ovation.

Karros provided two doubles and the only Rockies RBI on a night when the rest of their bats were cold.

Pitching probables

Sunday: Brewers LHP Shane Drohan (2-1, 2.87) at Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (1-6, 8.06), 1:10 p.m.

Monday: Off day

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Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM

But the fireworks didn’t begin until after sundown when the Brewers scored four runs in the ninth inning and four more in the 10th to shock Colorado, 9-7.

“There was some good and some bad, for sure,” manager Warren Schaeffer said. “The boys kept fighting all the way to the end. They were dealing with a ton of adversity late in the game.

“It’s no secret that we have to take care of the baseball, and walks kill you, especially late in the game. We just have to tighten it up towards the end of the game. That’s all.”

Jake Bauers’ two-run double off struggling Colorado reliever Juan Mejia (6.67 ERA) was the big blow of the 10th inning, in which Rockies pitchers walked three. The Brewers won for the first time this season when trailing after eight innings. They are now 1-17 in those situations.

But give Colorado credit for getting up off the mat. Sterlin Thompson’s broken-bat, two-run single to center cut Milwaukee’s lead to 9-7, but Edouard Julien grounded into a double play and Aaron Ashby struck out Jake McCarthy to clinch the game.

Colorado seemed to have the game well in hand, especially when closer Antonio Senzatela took his 1.30 ERA on the mound in the eighth and ninth. But Senzatela melted down in the ninth and committed a critical error as the Brewers rallied for four runs to take a 5-3 lead.

Brice Turang led off the ninth with a single, though it looked harmless enough when William Contreras grounded back to the mound for a likely double play. Except that Senzatela short-hopped the ball into center field. The Brewers’ rally was on.

An RBI single by Bauers, an RBI double by Sal Frelick, and a two-run single by Andrew Vaughn compounded Senzatela’s error and put Milwaukee ahead, 5-3.

Asked if he thought Senzatela “double-clutched” on his errant throw to second base, Schaeffer answered, “That’s very un-Senza like. I think he just threw it (badly) and made an error. That’s very unlike him.”

Asked if he thought Senzatela “got flustered” after committing the error, the manager said, “Does it affect him after that? I would say no. Senza is one of the most level-headed people I have ever met in my life. So, no, he turns the page very well.”

Colorado sent the game into extra innings with two runs in the bottom of the frame when Chad Stevens drew a bases-loaded walk off of Trevor Megill and Hunter Goodman hit a sacrifice fly to deep right field.

Before the late-night craziness turned scorecards into a Rorschach test, Feltner pitched six innings of one-hit, one-run ball in what looked like it would be a quick, easy victory for Colorado. The slider continues to be Feltner’s best pitch.

“The slider has been working the last two starts, and I feel like I can go to it pretty often. … It’s definitely one of my go-to pitches, and it was on tonight,” said Feltner, who has a 0.75 ERA in his two starts since being reinstated from the injured list, where he was rehabbing a sore elbow for much of the spring.

Feltner got better as the game went along. He opened by plunking leadoff hitter Christian Yelich, but no harm came of it. Bauers led off Milwaukee’s second inning with a double, and Feltner walked two and needed 37 pitches to escape the inning. But Feltner limited the damage to an RBI groundout by Luis Rengifo and got out of big trouble by striking out Yelich on a wicked changeup with two men on.

“I thought Ryan attacked the zone very well with all of his stuff,” Schaeffer said. “In the second inning, he got into some trouble and lost his command a little bit and was about one hitter away from being removed from the game. But he came back and started pounding the zone and made a good adjustment.”

Feltner, who retired the last 13 batters he faced, walked two and struck out four. He threw 81 pitches, 51 for strikes.

Colorado backed up Feltner with timely hits early, the biggest a 411-foot home run to left by  Goodman in the third. It was Goodman’s 16th homer, and he’s gone yard in three of his last four games.

McCarthy, leading off, sparked Colorado to a 1-0 lead in the first, smacking a double off Milwaukee right-hander Brandon Sproat. McCarthy stole third and scored on Tyler Freeman’s groundout to second.

Ezequiel Tovar’s leadoff double and Edouard Julien’s RBI single to left put the Rockies ahead, 3-1, in the third.

Pitching probables

Saturday: Brewers RHP Jacob Misiorowski (6-2, 1.65 ERA) at Rockies TBA, 7:10 p.m.
Sunday: Brewers LHP Shane Drohan (2-1, 2.87) at Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (1-6, 8.06), 1:10 p.m.
Monday: Off day