Rockies ride seven-run sixth inning to their first win of the season

Rockies Report, Game 4:

ROCKIES BOTTOM LINE: Troy Johnston’s two-run blast ignited a seven-run sixth inning that powered the Rockies out of their frustrating start to the season and into the win column for the first time in 2026, by a 14-5 count over the Blue Jays in Toronto on Monday night.

TROYYYYYYYYY

Moonshot ☄️ pic.twitter.com/kDUe1VbrrY

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) March 31, 2026

Three-straight one-run losses — including Sunday’s in walk-off fashion — became a mere unpleasant memory as the Rox saw five-consecutive batters reach base with two out in the sixth, bringing home five of their seven runs.

That onslaught began when Braxton Fulford singled home Jordan Beck from second. Brenton Doyle singled and Hunter Goodman walked to load the bases, setting up Willi Castro for a 2-RBI double that sailed down the right-field line and bounced just in front of Addison Barger, scoring Fulford and Doyle. Five pitches later, Ezequiel Tovar capped the damage, lining a double to the warning track to score Goodman.

They tacked on another four runs in the eighth and one in the ninth via a solo shot from Fulford as most of the sellout crowd at Rogers Centre bolted for the exits.

Working four innings out of the bullpen, 2023 first-round pick Chase Dollander finished out the game and earned credit for the win. He entered for the sixth inning after Jaden Hill got one out on one pitch to escape the fifth inning, just before Colorado’s offense lit up the Jays.

Dollander twirled a pair of shutout innings before Toronto began teeing off on him in the eighth. Andrés Giménez and Davis Schneider each went yard on him, depositing a sinker and a changeup, respectively, over the fence. An inning later, Kazuma Okamoto sent a 99-MPH fastball over the left-center-field wall. Giménez and Okamoto’s were solo shots; Schneider hit a 2-run homer.

ROCKIES STARTER’S REPORT

Tomoyuki Sugano fared well in three starts against the Blue Jays while with the Baltimore Orioles last year, and even though he failed to make it through five innings, he held his own and limited Toronto to just two hits and two runs over 4 2/3 innings before Warren Schaeffer relieved him.

The only run Sugano surrendered came via George Springer’s solo blast in the third inning. Dating back to last season, Sugano has allowed at least one home run in seven-straight starts.

BITS AND PIECES

IT WAS DECIDED FOR THE ROCKIES WHEN: Castro dropped his bloop in front of Barger in the sixth, which proved to put the game out of reach.

NUMBER TO NOTE: 1.051 — First baseman TJ Rumfield’s OPS through four games after Monday’s 3-for-5, 2-RBI night.

WHAT’S NEXT: Ryan Feltner makes his first start of 2026 for the Rox. Max Scherzer gets the call for Toronto, with the first pitch set for 5:07 p.m. MDT on Tuesday.

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