WASHINGTON, June 17, 2025 — The Colorado Rockies mounted a stunning ninth-inning comeback to defeat the Washington Nationals 6-4 on June 16 at Nationals Park, halting Washington’s hopes of ending a nine-game losing streak. Hunter Goodman’s two home runs, including a game-tying solo shot, and Mickey Moniak’s two-run homer powered the Rockies, now 15-57 and fifth in the National League West, to victory. The Nationals, falling to 30-42 and fourth in the NL East, extended their skid to nine games.
The Rockies struck first in the opening inning when Goodman hit a two-run homer off Jake Irvin, scoring Tyler Freeman, who had singled and stolen second, for a 2-0 lead. Washington countered in the fourth with a sacrifice fly from Amed Rosario, scoring CJ Abrams, who had walked and stolen two bases, narrowing the gap to 2-1. The Nationals surged ahead in the fifth, capitalizing on two home runs off Carson Palmquist: Daylen Lile’s first career homer and James Wood’s two-run shot, giving Washington a 4-3 lead.
Colorado responded in the fifth to tie the game at 3-3 when Moniak tripled and scored on Michael Toglia’s single. The score remained deadlocked until the ninth, when Goodman homered off Kyle Finnegan to even the game at 4-4. Thairo Estrada followed with a single, and pinch-runner Sam Hilliard stole second, setting the stage for Moniak’s go-ahead two-run homer, securing a 6-4 lead. Seth Halvorsen closed the game for Colorado, earning his fourth save despite issuing a leadoff walk, inducing a double play and a groundout to seal the win.
Goodman led the Rockies’ offense, going 2-for-4 with three RBIs, while Moniak also drove in three runs, going 2-for-4 with a triple and a homer. Estrada contributed a double and a single, and Freeman stole his sixth base of the season. Victor Vodnik earned the win with a scoreless eighth inning, while Finnegan took the loss and his fifth blown save for Washington. The Nationals’ offense struggled, managing only four hits and going 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position, leaving three runners on base.
Washington’s pitching effort was led by Irvin, who allowed three runs on five hits over six innings, striking out five. Palmquist struggled for Colorado, surrendering four runs in 4.2 innings, but relievers Juan Mejia, Jimmy Herget, Vodnik, and Halvorsen combined for 4.1 scoreless innings. The Rockies turned one double play, while the Nationals executed one but couldn’t capitalize on their opportunities, hitting into a double play in the ninth.
The game, attended by 11,370 fans, lasted 2 hours and 22 minutes under cloudy skies with 66-degree temperatures and a 5 mph wind. The Rockies’ seven strikeouts helped them avoid a historical mark after fanning 35 times in their previous two games. The teams are set to face off again tonight at 6:45 p.m. EDT, with Colorado’s Antonio Senzatela (1-10, 7.23 ERA) taking on Washington’s Michael Soroka (3-4, 5.14 ERA).
The Rockies’ victory showcased their resilience, with key contributions from Goodman and Moniak in the clutch. Washington’s ongoing losing streak highlights their struggle to close games, as Finnegan’s ninth-inning collapse proved costly. Both teams will look to adjust strategies in the next matchup, with Colorado aiming to build momentum and Washington seeking to reverse their fortunes.
