WASHINGTON -- How the Rockies missed catcher Hunter Goodman.
On Tuesday night in his first game back since missing 10 contests with a left shoulder strain, Goodman crushed his 35th home run of the season – a fourth-inning leadoff shot off lefty Andrew Alvarez in a 3-1 victory over the Nationals at Nationals Park.
Goodman also erased Daylen Lile on a sixth-inning attempted steal of second base as the Rockies ended their losing streak at seven games.
“It was on both sides of the ball today – the throw-out at second base, which was huge, and obviously the homer,” Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer said. “It’s good to have him in the middle of the lineup.”
The Rockies’ inability to deliver the big hit was a problem in many of those losses. Tuesday’s streak-breaker wasn’t exactly an anomaly.
Connor Norby doubled in a run later in the fourth, and the only other run scored when Jordan Beck dashed from second as Nats catcher Harry Ford had trouble locating a wild pitch from Alvarez. Ford’s throw home was immaterial since Washington third baseman Brady House was called for obstructing Beck’s path to the plate.
The re-entry of Goodman for the second game of a seven-game road trip to Washington and Atlanta is important, based on performance this season. Tuesday’s 1-for-4 performance with the homer put Goodman’s slash line at .265/.332/.574 with a .906 OPS and 20 home runs in 59 road games -- better figures than at Coors Field (.236/.304/.513, .817 OPS, 15 HR in 53 games).
Well, no matter where they are playing, Schaeffer and the Rockies wanted Goodman in the lineup, posthaste. Goodman is back without having gone on an injury rehab assignment, which is common practice for Rockies players. To prepare, Goodman hit at full speed against a machine programmed to mimic specific Major League pitchers, and he took batting practice at Nationals Park on Monday.
“He’s awesome,” Schaeffer said. “He’s our All-Star. He’s got 30-plus homers. It’s always great to get a guy like that back in the lineup. He feels good, which is even better.”
Goodman also called pitches for righty Mason Adams, who celebrated his Major League debut by striking out five in four-plus innings and holding the Nats to one run, Lile’s fourth-inning leadoff homer. Called up from Triple-A Albuquerque to replace lefty starter Kyle Freeland (pinched neck nerve), Adams (Colorado's No. 20 prospect) was acquired from the White Sox in a Deadline trade for center fielder Brenton Doyle.
“Obviously, he knows what he’s doing,” Adams said. “I’m just out there trusting what he’s throwing down.”
Part of Adams’ thrill was witnessing Goodman’s impact.
“That’s pretty cool to see it in person,” Adams said.