Hunter Goodman hit two home runs and drove in five runs in his first game with four hits. Ryan McMahon doubled twice and stole home, helping the Colorado Rockies score their highest run total in two years with a 16-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night.
Goodman, making his second start as a catcher in the majors, put the Rockies ahead with a solo home run that traveled 440 feet in the third inning against rookie pitcher Jared Jones (4-6).
He continued his impressive night by doubling in a run during a three-run fourth inning, scoring after a single in the sixth, hitting a two-run homer that traveled 429 feet in the seventh off Justin Bruihl, and contributing with an RBI groundout in a six-run eighth inning that featured Michael Toglia’s grand slam off Dennis Santana.
“We’ve been making adjustments in the batting cage over the past few weeks,” said Goodman, who hit 70 home runs in the minors over the last two seasons. “We’ve been working on being more consistent with my approach at the plate, staying controlled, and shortening my swing. It definitely paid off tonight.”
Colorado’s offense was potent with six doubles, a triple, and three home runs, marking their highest-scoring game since a 16-5 win over St. Louis on August 9, 2022.
Rockies manager Bud Black praised Goodman’s performance, noting, “He showed power tonight and is learning to handle major league pitching. This game is a glimpse of what he’s capable of.”
Andrew McCutchen and Nick Gonzales homered for the Pirates, who had previously won their last five games at Coors Field. McCutchen joined Jeff Kent and Giancarlo Stanton as the only visiting players to hit home runs in five consecutive games at the high-altitude ballpark.
Pittsburgh surrendered its most runs since a 16-0 loss to the New York Yankees on July 6, 2022.
“We need to move on from this game,” said Pirates manager Derek Shelton. “We didn’t perform well tonight.”
McMahon added to Colorado’s offensive display by doubling in the fifth inning and surprising the Pirates with a steal of home in the same frame. This was McMahon’s first stolen base of the season, the 25th of his eight-year career, and the Rockies’ first steal of home since Dexter Fowler accomplished the feat on July 21, 2011.
