Hunter Goodman has 2 homers, 4 hits and 5 RBIs in Rockies' 16-4 rout of Pirates
Colorado Rockies' Hunter Goodman gestures as he crosses home plate on a two-run home run off Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Justin Bruihl during the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 15, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
DENVER (AP) — Hunter Goodman had two homers and five RBIs in his first four-hit game, Ryan McMahon doubled twice and stole home, and the Colorado Rockies scored their most runs in two years in a 16-4 rout of the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night.
Goodman made his second big league start at catcher and put the Rockies ahead with a 440-foot solo homer in the third inning against rookie Jared Jones (4-6). He doubled in a run in a three-run fourth, singled and scored in the sixth, hit a 429-foot, two-run homer in the seventh off Justin Bruihl and had an an RBI groundout in a six-run eighth that included Michael Toglia's grand slam against Dennis Santana.
Colorado Rockies' Hunter Goodman gestures as he runs the bases on a two-run home run off Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Justin Bruihl during the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 15, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
“We’ve been working on some stuff in the cage over the last few weeks," said Goodman, who had 70 homers in the minor leagues the last two seasons, “trying to work on consistency with my move in the box and working on staying under control and being a little shorter to the ball. It helped tonight, for sure.”
Colorado had six doubles, a triple and three home runs in its highest-scoring game since a 16-5 win over St. Louis on Aug. 9, 2022.
Colorado Rockies' Hunter Goodman, front, celebrates as he crosses home plate after hitting a two-run home run, next to Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Yasmani Grandal during the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 15, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
“Outstanding both ways,” Colorado manager Bud Black said of Goodman. “He's learning about big league pitching. There's power in there. Tonight is a sign of something he can do."
Andrew McCutchen and Nick Gonzales homered for the Pirates, who had won their previous five games at Coors Field. McCutchen joined Jeff Kent and Giancarlo Stanton as the only visiting players to homer in five straight games at the mile-high ballpark.
Pittsburgh gave up its most runs since a 16-0 loss against the New York Yankees on July 6, 2022.
“We have to flush it,” Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton said. “We just didn't play well.”
McMahon doubled in the fifth and capped a two-run inning with a delayed steal of home, breaking for the plate after a 1-2 pitch to Nolan Jones when catcher Yasmani Grandal lobbed the ball back to Jones after glancing at McMahon. It was McMahon’s first stolen base of the year, the 25th of his eight-year career, and the Rockies’ first steal of home since Dexter Fowler on July 21, 2011.
McMahon said he "stepped back" after Grandal looked over, “because I knew that would get him off me. As soon as he wasn't looking any more, I took off.”
Colorado Rockies' Michael Toglia is congratulated as he returns to the dugout after hitting a grand slam off Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Dennis Santana during the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 15, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
“He just timed up the throw and made a good baseball play,” Shelton said.
Colorado Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, left, and right fielder Michael Toglia celebrate after a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday, June 15, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Ty Blach (3-4) gave up two runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings.
“Hunter worked really hard to be on the game plan and know what he was trying to do,” said Blach, who threw only 29 pitches in the first three innings. “Obviously what he did with the bat tonight was really incredible.”
Colorado Rockies' Michael Toglia, right, watches his grand slam next to Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Yasmani Grandal during the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 15, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Jones (4-6) allowed six runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: C Henry Davis (concussion protocol) was placed on the 7-day injured list. He left Friday’s game in the seventh inning after taking a foul ball off his mask in the sixth. ... C Jason Delay was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis. ... SS Oneil Cruz (sore ankle) participated in pregame activities, but was held out of the lineup for a second straight game. ... LHP Ryan Borucki (triceps) threw 28 pitches in a bullpen session. ... LHP Marco Gonzalez (forearm strain) threw a bullpen session Saturday.
Colorado Rockies left fielder Nolan Jones, center fielder Jake Cave and right fielder Michael Toglia, from left, celebrate the team's win in a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday, June 15, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Rockies: 1B/OF Kris Bryant (rib, oblique strain) was diagnosed with a strained oblique after an MRI. “We all thought it was just a bruised rib,” Bryant said. “It all makes sense now, what I’m feeling. It’s frustrating.” Bryant was injured when he ran into the fence while catching a foul fly ball against the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 5. “I probably stretched it pretty good just getting caught in the fence,” Bryant said. He has been given no timetable to return. “They told me obliques are a little different,” he said. “They told me you have to see how it goes as you go." ... CF Brenton Doyle (left patellar tendinitis) was a late scratch. ... OF Jake Cave had three hits in his return to the lineup after being scratched Friday when he was struck by a line drive in batting practice.
Colorado Rockies' Michael Toglia watches his three-run home run off Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Dennis Santana during the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 15, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
UP NEXT
RHP Dakota Hudson (2-8, 4.87 ERA) is to start for the Rockies in Sunday's finale of the three-game series. The Pirates hadn't yet announced a starter.
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Pittsburgh Pirates' Andrew McCutchen steps on home plate after hitting a solo home run off Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Geoff Hartlieb during the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 15, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Pittsburgh Pirates' Andrew McCutchen watches his solo home urn off Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Geoff Hartlieb during the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 15, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Rockies' Nolan Jones, left, congratulates Michael Toglia, who hit a three-run home run off Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Dennis Santana during the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 15, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)