Rockies ride McCarthy’s inside-the-park home run to 2-1 series-clinching win over Pirates

Rockies Report, Game 77:

ROCKIES BOTTOM LINE: An inside-the-park home run. A second-consecutive starting pitcher’s outing that ended in a quality start. A runner’s interference for the 27th out.

It took that ilk of unusual and unexpected circumstances for the Rockies to turn back the Pittsburgh Pirates on a night when two-time All-Star and reigning Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes took to the mound.

First, Jake McCarthy led off the Rockies’ night by going all the way around the bases following his drive to center field that slipped just under the grasp of a diving Jake Mangum. That tied the score at 1-apiece in the first inning, a deadlock that remained until TJ Rumfield’s third-inning RBI single to score McCarthy, who had doubled earlier in that frame.

OMG JAKE 🤯

INSIDE THE PARK HOME RUN! pic.twitter.com/KMScxcVZDz

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) June 21, 2026

Then, Sugano overcame the leadoff homer he surrendered to Spencer Horwitz in the first inning to squelch Pittsburgh from that point forward become the only run he’d surrender.

Finally, with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth, Colorado reliever Jaden Hill escaped the jam and preserved his second save of the campaign in unusual fashion. Mangum hit a slow ground ball to Kyle Karros, who appeared to fail to make a play on it allowing Brandon Lowe to score and apparently tie the game.

But as Karros made the play on the ball, Pittsburgh’s Billy Cook made contact with the Colorado third baseman as he dashed toward third base in front of Karros. After a conversation, the umpires ruled that the play was interference, leaving Cook out at third base via a fielder’s choice and Colorado victorious.

“It was just a slow roller, and I was going to get the ball, and [Cook’s] cleat just kind of clicked my glove,” Karros told media after the game. “I still fielded the ball, but it was all rattled around in my glove, so, I couldn’t get the throw off.

“But I knew the rule going into it, and if there’s any contact made, the runner’s out.”

Colorado improved to 30-47 and has now won three of its last four games. If the team can win at least two of its next four games, it will hit midseason on pace to avoid 100 losses. The Rox also clinched the series against the Pirates and will vie for the sweep Sunday afternoon.

ROCKIES STARTER’S REPORT

On a night that saw Skenes’ presence help attract a throng of over 40,000 — 40,380, to be exact — Sugano got the better of him, scattering four hits over six innings and 85 pitches of work to earn his fourth quality start of the season and his first since May 22 at Arizona.

Sugano strengthened as his evening progressed, retiring the final 12 Pirates he faced.

It was the Rockies’ 11th quality start this season and the team-leading fourth for Sugano. Coming on the heels of Kyle Freeland’s work Friday night, the Rox earned consecutive quality starts for the first time in 2026.

BITS AND PIECES

IT WAS DECIDED FOR THE ROCKIES WHEN: Cook’s foot made contact with Karros’ glove in the ninth as Cook ran to first base, giving the Rockies the 27th out.

NUMBER TO NOTE: .130 — Batting average of Rockies hitters NOT named Jake McCarthy in Saturday’s contest. Overall, Rox batters had four hits and walked twice with one hit-by-pitch against Skenes, who lasted six innings and took the loss despite posting his eighth quality start of the season. The Pirates are 5-3 in Skenes’ quality starts; Colorado is 8-3 in its quality starts this year, including 3-1 with Sugano.

WHAT’S NEXT: In a duel of pitchers with ERAs north of 6.00, Michael Lorenzen of the Rockies and Jared Jones of Pittsburgh battle. First pitch Sunday is set for 1:10 p.m. MDT.

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