Rockies get two homers from Goodman but fall, 6-5

Rockies Report, Game 85:

ROCKIES BOTTOM LINE: Hunter Goodman blasted a pair of solo home runs in his return to the lineup, but they weren’t enough to prevent a 6-5 loss to the AL West-leading Houston Astros on Tuesday night at Coors Field.

Goodman hit his 15th home run of the season on the first pitch he saw, clobbering a Colton Gordon fastball 431 feet to center field.

First pitch.
First day back in the lineup.
Boom. pic.twitter.com/kQNnzKwlcg

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) July 2, 2025

Home run No. 16 came in the bottom of the ninth inning, also on the first pitch of the at-bat off closer Josh Hader, whose sinker settled in the heart of the strike zone and landed 443 feet away in the left-center-field stands.

He hadn’t played since last Wednesday due to a hamstring issue, but showed no ill effects from the layoff, pushing his OPS to .869 as he continued making his case to be the Rockies’ All-Star representative.

Goodman provided the power, while Jordan Beck delivered consistently, going five-for-five in the No. 3 spot in the lineup. He became just the seventh MLB player with a five-hit day this season and the second Rockies player, joining Ezequiel Tovar on May 17 at Arizona.

But while Colorado was able to generate traffic and opportunities, pounding out 12 hits and scoring a single run in five different innings, it wasn’t enough to overcome a Houston side powered by a single big frame — a five-run third that put the Astros in front 6-1.

The Rockies chipped away with runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings. The bullpen shut down the Astros with 6 1/3 of scoreless work from Jimmy Herget, Angel Chivilli, Jake Bird, Juan Mejia and Victor Vodnik.

Houston had just two hits and walked twice against Colorado’s relievers. But the rally fell short.

Colorado fell to 19-66.

ROCKIES STARTER’S REPORT

One pitch ruined Chase Dollander’s night, but he was already in trouble before allowing the decisive grand slam.

With the bases loaded and one out in the third, Dollander had Houston Astros catcher Victor Caratini down 1-2, getting him to foul off a pair of fastballs that touched 98 and 99 MPH on the radar gun.

Then the rookie went to his curveball. It was elevated — out of the strike zone. And Caratini got all of it, crushing it into the right-field stands to put the Rockies in a 6-1 hole.

“He hung that curveball to Caratini; that was the nail in the coffin there,” interim manager Warren Schaeffer said.

CARATINI GRAND SLAM!#BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/Rtrlwz9dfo

— Houston Astros (@astros) July 2, 2025

Dollander retired Yainer Diaz and yielded a single to Christian Walker after Caratini’s grand slam, then was relieved after 69 pitches. He allowed seven hits and two walks in just 2 2/3 innings, with one strikeout.

BITS AND PIECES

IT WAS DECIDED FOR THE ROCKIES WHEN: Thairo Estrada and Brenton Doyle struck out in the ninth inning with Beck on first base with the potential game-tying run.

NUMBER TO NOTE: 9 –Runners left on base by the Rockies.

WHAT’S NEXT: The second game of the series against the Houston Astros, with Austin Gomber getting the call. Hunter Brown and his 1.74 ERA will start for Houston. First pitch is at 6:40 p.m. MDT.

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