ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Colorado Rockies spent most of Monday night squandering opportunities and digging themselves deeper into trouble. Then, in a span of a few breathtaking innings, everything changed.
Hunter Goodman delivered the decisive blow with a go-ahead three-run home run during a five-run eighth inning as the Rockies erased a three-run deficit and stunned the Los Angeles Angels, 9-8, at Angel Stadium.
The victory was one of Colorado’s most dramatic of the season, as the Rockies overcame a 6-3 deficit after seven innings and spoiled what appeared to be a strong night for Angels starter José Soriano. Soriano entered the game with a 2.65 ERA and had largely kept Colorado’s offense in check despite battling command issues throughout the evening.
Colorado’s offense had traffic on the bases all night but struggled to capitalize early. The Rockies drew seven walks and were hit by two pitches against Soriano, yet managed just three hits and three runs against the hard-throwing right-hander.
That all changed in the eighth.
Sterlin Thompson ignited the rally with a two-strike double before Kyle Karros followed with another two-strike double to drive home a run. Jake McCarthy then worked a walk, and Tyler Freeman delivered a clutch two-strike single to score Karros and cut the deficit to one run.
Moments later, Goodman stepped to the plate and turned the game on its head.
The Rockies catcher launched a laser over the wall for his 14th home run of the season, a three-run shot that suddenly gave Colorado an 8-6 lead. Goodman has been Colorado’s top power threat this season and entered the game leading the club in home runs.
Remarkably, the Rockies erased the three-run deficit without recording an out in the inning.
The Angels, however, refused to go quietly.
In the bottom of the eighth, designated hitter Jorge Soler answered with a two-run triple that tied the game at 8-8 and energized the home crowd. Los Angeles threatened to take the lead when Mike Trout reached base with one out and a runner at third, but Rockies right-hander Antonio Senzatela escaped the jam. After walking Trout, Senzatela induced Vaughn Grissom to ground into an inning-ending double play, preserving the tie.
That escape proved crucial.
Colorado regained the lead in the ninth. Karros opened the inning with a single, and McCarthy followed with an RBI double to put the Rockies back in front. TJ Rumfield later added a sacrifice fly, giving Colorado an important insurance run and a 9-8 advantage.
The Rockies bullpen then closed the door in the bottom half, completing a comeback that looked unlikely for much of the night.
The win continued a stretch of resilient baseball for Colorado, which has recently shown a knack for late-game heroics. Just days earlier, the Rockies rallied with five runs in the ninth inning to defeat San Francisco, another comeback fueled by Goodman’s power.
For the Angels, the loss was a frustrating missed opportunity. Los Angeles appeared in control after building a three-run cushion and getting another productive night from its lineup, but the bullpen could not contain Colorado’s relentless eighth-inning surge.
Instead, the night belonged to Goodman and the Rockies, who finally converted their many scoring chances when it mattered most and left Anaheim with a thrilling 9-8 victory.