The Rockies can’t hold off the Rays late-inning comeback, lose 9-7

Aug 4, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Tampa Bay Rays catcher Liam Hicks (34) celebrates his grand slam with third baseman Junior Caminero (13) in the third inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect This was Tampa Bay Rays starter Freddy Peralta’s third time to face the Rockies this season following two starts with his previous team, the New York Mets. He came into the game with a 3-0 record at Coors in addition to a 1.23 ERA.

class="wp-block-paragraph">But it didn’t seem like it would matter against a persistent Colorado Rockies club that took an early lead.

class="wp-block-paragraph">However, the Rockies offense stalled after the fourth inning, and the Rays got back in the game ultimately winning 9-7 in extra innings.

The offense got an early start — and then stoppedThe Rockies got off to a quick start on the offensive side in their third time facing Peralta this season. (They faced him twice when he was with the New York Mets.)

class="wp-block-paragraph">Jake McCarthy kicked things off with a lead-off single, and Cole Carrigg followed his example with another single that moved McCarthy to third. Mickey Moniak then hit into a double play, but it was enough to score McCarthy and give the Rockies a 1-0 when the first inning had concluded.

class="wp-block-paragraph">The Rays did not have a baserunner until the third inning when Cedric Mullins hit a single. After that, Gabriel Hughes walked Richie Palancios, and Taylor Walls executed a successful bunt single, loading the bases with no outs. He struck out Yandy Díaz before issuing a walk to Jonathan Aranda, and the score was tied with the Rockies desperate for a double play with Junior Caminero at the plate. Hughes struck him out with a four-seam fastball The Rockies just needed one more out to minimize the damage.

class="wp-block-paragraph">It didn’t happen.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Newly acquired catcher Liam Hicks hit a grand slam home run, the first of his career, to give the Rays a 5-1 lead.

View LinkHughes came back to get a groundout and end the inning.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Jordan Beck made his presence felt in the Rockies half of the third when he led off with a triple, his second of this season. Coming off a four-hit night, Ezequiel Tovar picked up where he left off. After a 10-pitch at-bat, he singled to bring home Beck and make the score 5-2 Rays. After that, McCarthy singled giving the Rockies runners at first and second.

class="wp-block-paragraph">The 2026 Colorado Rockies are nothing if not persistent, and such was the case in the third inning.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Moniak stepped to the plate and belted a three-run, 380-ft homer — his 19th of the season — tying the game and celebrating his two-year contract extension.

View LinkHughes got back in track with a one-two-three fourth.

class="wp-block-paragraph">And then the Rockies decided they wanted some taco’s.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Kyle Karros led off with a walk, and Willi Castro followed that with a homer — his 13th and a career high.

View LinkWith that, the score was 7-5 Rockies as Rockies president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta visited the broadcast booth.

class="wp-block-paragraph">After that, Peralta got two quick outs before allowing McCarthy to hit a single, and that was it for him. Although he’s had a history or success at Coors Field, that was not the case tonight. His final line was 3.2 IP, allowing seven runs (all earned) on nine hits. He walked one, struck out three, and allowed two home runs on 71 pitches.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Hughes was terrific in the fifth inning, striking out all three batters he faced and kicking the sixth off with a fourth K. However, when he allowed Hicks a double, Warren Schaeffer went to the bullpen for LHP Brennan Bernardino.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Although Bernardino allowed a single, no runs scored, and the Rockies finished the sixth inning with their 7-5 lead.

class="wp-block-paragraph">The Rockies went quietly in their part of the sixth, and recently recalled Parker Mushinski came in for the seventh, a rare stretch when the Rockies were able to pitch back-to-back lefties. Although he had some traffic, the Rays did not score.

class="wp-block-paragraph">That said, the Rays bullpen was successful in quieting the Rockies offense, which did not have a base runner after a McCarthy single in the fourth until the eighth inning when TJ Rumfield hit a double. However the Rockies failed to score.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Schaeffer haded the ball to Juan Mejia in the eighth, who allowed two hits but no runs.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Jordan Romano entered to close, and things went sideways.

class="wp-block-paragraph">He struck out Ben Williamson before surrendering a walk to Walls, who then stole second, and a single to Díaz, who followed suit, grabbing second as well. A base hit from Aranda tied the game with one out and Caminero at the plate.

View LinkRomano struck out Caminero with the Rockies opting to intentionally walk Hicks to get to old friend Ryan Vilade. A 5-3 ground ball to Karros ended the Rays half of the inning with a blown Romano save and a tie game.

class="wp-block-paragraph">The bottom of the ninth would bring up Castro, Beck, and Tovar. After Castro failed to get on base, Rays manager Kevin Cash went to Kevin Kelly while Troy Johnston entered for the Rockies to pinch hit.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Although Johnston was a quick line out, Tovar stayed hot and hit a double, which brought McCarthy to the plate — 3-for-4 so far on the night. But he was unable to get on base, and the game went to extras.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Warren Schaeffer went with Jimmy Herget for the 10th inning. With Vilade as the ghost runner, the Rockies got a 4-3 out that moved the runner to third. He struck out Jonny DeLuca and Williams to end the inning without allowing a run.

View LinkThe stage was set for a Rockies walk-off with McCarthy the ghost runner.

class="wp-block-paragraph">The Rays begin by walking Carrigg, which brought Tyler Freeman to the plate. He executed a successful bunt that advanced the runner and brought up Hunter Goodman.

class="wp-block-paragraph">That led to a pitching change for the Rays who went to LHP Garrett Cleavinger. Goodman flew out to right, but it wasn’t enough to bring McCarthy home.

class="wp-block-paragraph">With two outs, everything came down to Rumfield.

class="wp-block-paragraph">He flew out to left, and the game went to the 11th inning with recently acquired Nick Frasso making his MLB debut.

class="wp-block-paragraph">It wasn’t the start he wanted as a wild pitch scored ghost runner Williamson from third, and the Rays took a 8-7 lead with one out. Following that, Díaz hit a double. He advanced to third on a fly ball, and a Caminero single gave the Rays a 9-7 lead. Hicks flew out to left to end the inning.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Cash turned to his closer, Bryan Baker and a wicked elevated changeup, for the Rays half of the 11th while the Rockies ghost runner Rumfield started at second. Karros was unable to advance the runner; Castro struck out; and Johnston struck out.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Game over.

class="wp-block-paragraph">In total, the Rockies had seven runs on 11 hits. They walked once and struck out six times.

class="wp-block-paragraph">“They got the job done in a battle,” Schaeffer said of the Rays bullpen. “It was a great baseball battle back-and-forth.”

Walks came back to haunt Gabriel Hughes — but then he called Ghost BustersIf anything has defined Gabriel Hughes’ time with the Rockies, it’s been his ability to get ahead in counts and avoid walks.

class="wp-block-paragraph">That did not happen for him in the third inning, when he surrendered two walks and a grand slam, but he kept his composure for the rest of his outing.

View LinkHe relied primarily on his four-seamer (44%) followed by his curveball (23%) and changeup (14%).

class="wp-block-paragraph">Hughes final line was 5.1 IP with five runs (earned) on four hits. He walked two, struck out seven, and allowed one home run on 71 pitches.

class="wp-block-paragraph">He continues his quest to notch his first MLB win.

class="wp-block-paragraph">“Just one rough inning with a couple of walk mixed in there,” Schaeffer said. “I thought Gabe gave us a chance to win.”

The bullpen picked up where Hughes left off — until it didn’tAlthough Bernardino had some traffic, his streaks across 23 games of not allowing an earned run continues. He went 0.2 IP, allowing one hit but no walks, strikeouts, or runs.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Mushinski’s Rockies debut was not without a few hiccups, but no harm, no foul. His final line was 1.0 IP with one hit and one walk.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Mejia’s eighth inning was mostly uneventful: 1.0 IP with two hits and no runs.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Then it all came down to closer Jordan Romano, who blew the save by allowing two walks (one intentional), two runs, and two hits while notching two strikeouts.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Jimmy Herget pitched a lovely scoreless 10th inning that saw him striking out two and setting up the Rockies for the walk-off.

class="wp-block-paragraph">“Obiovusly it’s big for Jim to get that inning in,” Schaeffer said. “That’s the Jimmy we know, and it was good to see that.”

class="wp-block-paragraph">As for Nick Frasso’s MLB debut, it would not without its problems, but ultimately, he allowed two runs and did not strike out or walk any batter. He also earned the loss.

Up nextJoin us tomorrow for Game 3 when Nick Martinez will face Tomoyuki Sugano (菅野 智之) as the Rockies look to avoid the sweep.

class="wp-block-paragraph">First pitch is at 1:10.

class="wp-block-paragraph">See you then.

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