DENVER – After trailing for most of Thursday’s game – and having never led during the three-game set – the Rockies came from behind to tie the score in the middle innings against the Mets, then blasted their way to a 6-2 win at Coors Field behind a disputed eighth-inning grand slam from center fielder Jake McCarthy, putting the brakes on a six-game losing streak.
McCarthy’s towering homer off reliever Craig Kimbrel appeared to go directly over the foul pole on its way to the second deck, and it prompted a crew-chief challenge and a pause to Colorado’s celebration.
“It looked fair [at the] beginning, and then it took a hard hook at the end,” McCarthy said. “I guess it didn't really matter, so I took my time up the line, but I was really just trying to see if it was fair or foul.”
Both managers echoed McCarthy on the closeness of the clout. Each called his video monitor in the clubhouse, who agreed the call wasn’t likely to be overturned.
"I was hoping it was foul,” Kimbrel said, “but after they called it fair and after looking at it, they decided it was a home run."
TJ Rumfield and Troy Johnston opened the eighth inning with singles to center and right, respectively, and Willi Castro walked to load the bases. Then McCarthy unloaded on a 1-0 offering from Kimbrel, depositing it a Statcast-projected 448 feet for his first career grand slam, powering the Rockies to their first win in a six-game homestand.
“That’s a huge, huge homer to lift the boys after losing six in a row,” manager Warren Schaeffer said of the game-winning slam. “I can't put words together to show how big that was. Good for Jake.”
When the call went to review, McCarthy had already donned the royal purple faux fur coat the club bestows on its homer hitters in James Brown-esque fashion.
“I said, ‘Get this off me, because I might have to hit again,’” McCarthy said. “That would have been a hard dial back in.”
McCarthy’s homer was ruled to stand after the review.
The blast gave McCarthy five RBIs for the day, after his bloop hustle double tied the score at 2 in the sixth.
“I trust my instincts,” McCarthy said. “I always want to play the game hard – it’s the identity of our offense.”
Jose Quintana continued his run of strong starts, keeping Colorado in it as it narrowly avoided being swept on the six-game homestand.
It was Quintana’s third straight start of five innings or more while allowing two runs or fewer. He yielded five hits and walked two while striking out two.
“Feels like all my side [sessions are] working properly and working in the right direction,” Quintana said. “I've been making a couple adjustments. My delivery is more consistent right now. I’m trying to stay away from walks to give me more opportunity to run in the game. The key is to attack the zone early and stay ahead. My delivery is really good – that's the key.”
The Mets took the lead in the second on Andy Ibáñez’s sacrifice fly to left and Tyrone Taylor’s two-out RBI single to left.
The Rockies cut the lead in half in the fourth frame, with Tyler Freeman reaching on a one-out bunt single to first, advancing on a walk and coming home on Castro’s single to right off starting pitcher Christian Scott.
Antonio Senzatela put up goose eggs over the game’s final two innings in relief for his second win of the season.
“Doesn't matter which inning it is, I just try to come in and get three outs and help the team win the ballgame,” Senzatela said of his successful new role in the bullpen.
“What he's done this year compared to where he came from last year – I couldn't be more excited for him,” Schaeffer said of Senzatela. “He's closing games now for us, so it’s a big deal. You can't lose perspective on where he’s been.”
The Rockies also ended a six-game skid at home, during which they fell from 7-5 at Coors Field to 7-11 entering Thursday’s game.
“Just to get the win and get off the schneid, that's a big deal,” Schaeffer said. “It's a long season. You're going to go through some ups and downs. Hopefully, we don't have any more six-game losing streaks, but especially the way it happened there, it's good to get a win.”