DENVER -- The Rockies appeared headed for a loss Wednesday when an error opened the door to a late-inning rally and another comeback win over the Red Sox.
Colorado scored five runs between the seventh and eighth innings to finish its 4-2 homestand with an 8-6 win over Boston at Coors Field. That came after the Rockies had eight straight hits to end Monday night’s game, the last four in the ninth that turned a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 win on Jake McCarthy’s walk-off, three-run triple.
“Guys, especially the young guys, are learning that we play 27 outs for a reason, and you can't take any out for granted,” said starter Kyle Freeland, who grinded through six innings on Wednesday and was off the hook for the loss after his teammates rallied. “You get into situations with runners on late in the game, you want to be that guy standing in the box and getting a big hit. Those are big spots, and they want to be a part of those big spots.”
The first big spot came when the Rockies trailed 6-3 with two outs in the seventh -- and it came with a little help from Boston.
Red Sox shortstop Marcelo Mayer bobbled Hunter Goodman’s potential inning-ending grounder, putting runners on first and second. Cole Carrigg and McCarthy -- who extended his hitting streak to a career-high 13 games -- followed with RBI singles, and Troy Johnston tied it with a pinch-hit single off reliever Danny Coulombe.
Colorado completed the comeback in the eighth when Mickey Moniak led off with a pinch-hit single. Willi Castro followed with a single, and Moniak scored on Tyler Freeman’s sacrifice bunt to make it 7-6.
Carrigg again delivered, this time with a double to center field, giving Colorado an insurance run to make it an 8-6 game. Jimmy Herget recorded a 1-2-3 ninth to record his second save while also helping Antonio Senzatela to his eighth win.
Carrigg, who finished with three RBIs, epitomized Colorado’s youthful aggressiveness when equipment came flying off his body as he hustled to get to second base in the eighth.
“Not a whole lot's going through the head, just trying to be aggressive and get to two,” Carrigg said. “I wasn't aware that my leg guard and helmet flew off during the run. I was kind of confused when I saw the [clubhouse attendant] running at me with my leg guard. It was just a great feeling, and glad we could get some insurance runs for Herget.”
Carrigg also saved another potential run when his throw from center to Kyle Karros at third base cut down Carlos Narváez, who was trying to stretch a double into a triple leading off the sixth inning.
Narváez was initially called safe, but manager Warren Schaeffer’s challenge was successful when replays showed Karros kept the tag on Narváez, whose leg came off the bag after the slide.
“Kyle got us a huge out,” Schaeffer said. “That's a leadoff triple. [Ezequiel Tovar] the other day with an unbelievable one. You just play the game the right way all the time. There's no substitute for that.”
These close finishes have become commonplace for Colorado -- win or lose. The Rockies’ last nine games and 11 of their last 12 have been decided by three or fewer runs.
“Our boys just never quit,” Schaeffer said. “When the seventh inning rolls around, we're down, that something's bound to happen with us. You just feel it every night. We showed here the whole homestand – basically all year – but specifically in this homestand. Doesn't matter how much you're down, you always feel good about it.”