Hunter Goodman scored the tiebreaking run on a wild pitch in the eighth inning, and the visiting Colorado Rockies edged the Cincinnati Reds 3-2 in the opener of a three-game series Friday night.
The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Rockies, who are 22-72 and on pace to break the modern record for most losses in a season set last year by the Chicago White Sox.
Ryan McMahon hit a two-run homer in the fourth for Colorado, which improved to 3-7 this month and 15-39 under interim manager Warren Schaeffer.
Noelvi Marte homered and TJ Friedl had an RBI groundout for the Reds, who lost for the sixth time in 10 games this month.
Goodman, the Rockies’ lone representative in next week’s All-Star Game, began the game-winning rally against Tony Santillan (1-3) by walking with one out. Jordan Beck followed with a single and Michael Toglia struck out before McMahon singled off Santillan. Goodman raced home on Santillan’s wild pitch four pitches later.
Jake Bird (3-1) earned the win despite allowing the game-tying run in the seventh. Juan Mejia threw a hitless eighth and Victor Vodnik earned his second save in the ninth, when he recorded three strikeouts. Vodnik gave up a leadoff double to Santiago Espinal and intentionally walked Elly De La Cruz with two outs before whiffing Austin Hays.
McMahon had three of Colorado’s six hits, while Marte was 2-for-3 for the Reds.
Neither starter factored into the decision after solid six-inning performances.
The Rockies’ German Marquez gave up one run on five hits and three walks while striking out eight. Reds rookie Chase Burns, making his fourth major league start, allowed two runs on four hits and three walks while whiffing a career-high 10. The six innings were also the most in the bigs for Burns.
–Field Level Media
