Goodman and Moniak Power Rockies to Late Win over Nationals

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The Colorado Rockies pulled off a dramatic ninth-inning rally on Monday night, defeating the Washington Nationals 6–4 in a thrilling come-from-behind win. Hunter Goodman and Mickey Moniak delivered back-to-back home runs in the final inning to lift the Rockies past the slumping Nationals, who have now lost nine straight games. Hunter Goodman was the star of the night, homering twice—including a solo shot in the top of the ninth to tie the game at four. Goodman, who now leads National League catchers with thirteen home runs this season, gave the Rockies a chance after Washington had surged ahead earlier in the game. Just moments after Goodman tied it, Mickey Moniak launched a two-run homer into the bullpen in right field, giving Colorado its first lead since the fifth inning.

The Rockies had built an early 3–1 advantage, thanks in part to Moniak’s triple and a clutch RBI single from Michael Toglia. However, Washington answered in the fifth with a pair of long balls. Rookie Daylen Lile hit his first career major league home run to right, and rising star James Wood followed with a powerful two-run shot to left—his eighteenth homer of the year.

Pitching also played a key role in the Rockies' win. Victor Vodnik earned the victory with a scoreless eighth inning, and Seth Halvorsen closed the door in the ninth, working around a leadoff walk to record his fourth save. On the other side, Nationals closer Kyle Finnegan was handed his fifth blown save of the season, a costly mistake that ultimately sealed the team’s ninth consecutive loss.

Coming into the game, the Rockies were on the verge of a dubious record. They had struck out thirty-five times over their previous two games—just one shy of a two-game record set by the 1986 Boston Red Sox. Fortunately for Colorado, they struck out only seven times in Monday’s contest, keeping them from tying the all-time mark for strikeouts over three games.

Colorado’s season has been filled with close contests. Thirteen of their last twenty games have been decided by two runs or fewer, with the team going just 6–14 in that stretch. But Monday’s win might serve as a much-needed morale boost as they try to build momentum heading into the heart of the summer. In a season marked by inconsistency, the late-game heroics of Goodman and Moniak were a bright spot for Rockies fans—and a reminder that even in a challenging season, exciting baseball is never far away.