So many hits! But the Rockies outlast the Nationals, 8-7

It was a hot night at Coors Field with a hard-hitting Washington Nationals team ready to pick up where they left off on Monday night.

But it was not to be as the Colorado Rockies offense came to play tonight.

Despite a less-than-stellar performance from Michael Lorenzen, the Rockies were able to keep up with a hot Nationals team and tally the win, 8-7.

Taco’s for everyone!

There was a whole lotta offense — on both sides

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: The Rockies were behind before even taking an at-bat.

Lorenzen retired the first two batters he faced before allowing a José Tena single followed by a CJ Abrams homer, his third in three games.

There was no more action from the Nationals in the top of the first, but the Rockies headed to the plate down 2-0.

Cole Carrigg managed to break the seal for the Rockies in the first, but he was unable to score.

Nationals opener (and former Rockie) Carson Palmquist moved efficiently through the first inning, but struggled in the second — and the Rockies were eager to pounce.

First, he walked leadoff batter TJ Rumfield before hitting Kyle Karros with a pitch. Mickey Moniak stepped up to the plate with an RBI single that scored Rumfield and cut the Nationals lead, 2-1.

Karros’ smart base runners at the corners with no outs. Troy Johnston followed that up with a sacrifice fly to score Karros and even the score at two.

And then Jake McCarthy whacked out a double that extended his on-base streak to 16 games and scored Moniak, giving the Rockies a welcome 3-2 lead.

Not to be left out, Carrigg knocked a single to score McCarthy. The score was 4-2 Rockies, and the move knocked Palmquist out of the game with bulk reliever Miles Mikolas entering to finish the second.

Palmquist’s final line was 1.2 IP allowing four runs (earned) on four hits. He walked one and struck out two. His current ERA is 8.74.

The Rockies lead did not last long, as Abrams hit his second home of the game and tied the score.

It was a night for scoring, though, and in the Rockies half of the third, Willi Castro led off with a double that Karros was able to score. By the end of the inning, the Rockies had a 5-4 lead.

It would be short-lived.

In the fourth inning, Lorenzen issued a walk and a single with two outs before James Wood hit a double to give the Nationals a 6-5 lead. Manager Warren Schaeffer went to LHP Brendan Bernardino to end the inning.

The Rockies threatened in the fifth when Hunter Goodman hit a one-out double. With two outs, Rumfield hit an RBI single to tie the game.

Only one thing was certain at this point: If the Rockies were to win, the fans would get taco’s.

Things looked like they might be dire in the sixth when Victor Vodnik issued a leadoff single to Daylen Lile, who was able to progress to third on a Keibert Ruiz groundout. But Nasim Nuñez hit a high chopper to Ezequiel Tovar, who threw to home where Goodman tagged out Lile before shooting the ball to first, catching Nuñez in a rundown.

Inning over.

And then, Moniak got everyone taco’s and the Rockies a 7-6 lead with a homer — his 16th of 2026.

The Rockies were just getting started.

Johnston grounded out, but then the Rockies loaded the bases after an error to put Tovar on base followed by two singled from McCarthy and Carrigg.

As Goodman headed out to the plate, the Nationals pulled Mikolas and went to RHP Orlando Ribalta.

The strategy worked as he struck out Goodman and Castro. Still, the Rockies finished the sixth with the lead.

As for Mikolas, his final line was 3.2 IP allowing three runs (earned) on six hits. He struck out one and did not issue any walks.

Surprising absolutely no one, the Nationals rallied back in the seventh with Jimmy Herget pitching in relief. After Herget got the first out, Wood followed that with a double and the Luis García Jr hit a double. Jorbit Vivas, after a nine-pitch at-bat, hit a sacrifice fly to score Wood, and the game was (again) tied.

The Rockies had traffic in the seventh when Karros walked followed by a Johnston single, but Tovar struck out to end the threat.

In the eighth inning with two outs, Hunter Goodman entered the chat and blasted his 31st home run.

And with that, Goodman tied his 2025 total of 31 homers.

”I finally got a somewhat hittable one,“ Goodman said, ”and it was good.“

The ninth inning went to Jordan Romano.

He moved through the Nationals efficiently: Jacob Young filed out to right; Wood struck out; and García Jr struck out swinging.

Game over.

In what was an offensive smorgasbord on both sides, the Rockies finished the evening with eight runs (all earned) on 12 hits, including two home runs. They walked twice and struck out six times.

While commending his team’s overall effort, and pointing to Goodman’s homer, Schaeffer said, “The defense was huge.”

Michael Lorenzen struggled through it

It was not Lorenzen’s best outing, who did not manage a clear inning in the 3.2 he pitched. Moreover, all of the runs he allowed were scored with two outs.

Much of the damage came from Abrams’ two homers, and it’s worth noting that 12 of the 16 home runs Lorenzen has allowed have come from lefties.

His final line was six runs (all earned) on seven hits across 3.2 IP and 80 pitches. He walked one and struck out five.

Lorenzen’s current ERA is 6.53.

The bullpen gets the job done

Brennan Bernardino continues to impress. He finished off the fourth inning for a struggling Lorenzen and then retired the side in the fifth. He went 1.1 IP, allowing no hits or walks. He struck out one batter.

Schaeffer turned to Vodnik for the sixth, and the righty benefited from a fielder’s choice double play. He allowed one hit but no runs on six pitches.

Herget had the seventh and, after some traffic, allowed one run. His final line was 1.0 IP, allowing one run (earned) on two hits. He walked one (Abrams, which was just sensible) and struck out one.

The eighth inning went to Juan Mejia, who was in top form. Mejia faced the minimum, giving up no hits and strike out one.

Although the Rockies do not officially have a closer, that duty often now falls to an increasingly confident Jordan Romano. Tonight he did not disappoint, facing three batters and talking two strikeouts.

“It’s a really difficult lineup to get through,” Schaeffer said, commending his bullpen.

“They pounded the strike zone,” he added. “Efficient and confident.”

Up next

Join us tomorrow afternoon at 1:10 for Game 3 as the Rockies will look to take the series.

RHP Cade Cavalli will face RHP Gabriel Hughes in what should be a fun game.

See you then.

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