Rockies snap six-game losing streak on McCarthy’s grand slam

DENVER — Rockies Report, Game 38:

ROCKIES BOTTOM LINE: Jake McCarthy isn’t known for his power. In 431 games over five seasons heading into this year, he had 25 career home runs.

But he has home runs in back-to-back days — one Wednesday night, and on Thursday, his first career grand slam to break a 2-2 eighth-inning tie and pull the Rockies to a 6-2 win over the New York Mets that salvaged a triumph from a six-game homestand and snapped a six-game skid dating back to last week’s series in Cincinnati.

His wallop off Craig Kimbrel sailed 448 feet down the right-field line and over the foul pole, landing in the second deck. But the arc of the baseball meant that it landed well to the right of the foul pole as viewed from home plate, which left many of the 13,378 on hand guessing as to whether it actually stayed fair — including McCarthy himself.

“It looked fair at the beginning, and then it took a hard hook at the end, so, I didn’t know,” he 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.”

You can review it, but it's not coming back!!!! pic.twitter.com/8fX1M1HZdZ

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) May 7, 2026

It was ruled fair on the field, and the Mets immediately challenged. The call on the field was upheld — saving McCarthy the awkwardness of having to step back into the batter’s box after donning the Rockies’ celebratory purple home-run coat in the dugout.

“That would have been a hard dial-back-in,” McCarthy said.

It was only part of a massive day for the outfielder, acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks last January. Two innings earlier, he tied the game at 2-apiece in the sixth inning with a bloop double to shallow center field, scoring TJ Rumfield from second base.

McCarthy has been in good form for over two weeks now. After hitting .184 through April 17 to start the season, he’s hit .387 since then.

The Rockies snapped a seven-game home losing streak to the Mets dating back to the 2024 season and improved to 15-23.

ROCKIES STARTER’S REPORT

José Quintana fell just one out of short of posting his second-consecutive quality start at Coors Field, but in holding the Mets to a pair of earned runs over 5 2/3 innings while allowing five hits and two walks.

“The curveballs were really good for that lineup. We tried to attack sometimes with off-speed, and finished hard,” Quintana said.

He’s now surpassed five innings in each of his last three starts, including the most recent two at Coors Field. He emerged with no decision from the day, but dropped his ERA to 3.90 and his WHIP to 1.33.

BITS AND PIECES

IT WAS DECIDED FOR THE ROCKIES WHEN: Reliever Antonio Senzatela rallied from allowing a leadoff walk and a single in the top of the ninth to retire the next three Mets and squash New York’s chance at a response to McCarthy’s grand slam.

NUMBER TO NOTE: 18 — Length of Mickey Moniak’s streak of games with at least one hit that ended Thursday, as he finished the day 0-for-3 with a walk.

WHAT’S NEXT: A six-game road swing through the Keystone State that starts with a Friday night game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Chase Dollander will start Friday night’s series opener, with the first pitch scheduled for 4:40 p.m. MDT.

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