Mickey Moniak celebrated his 28th birthday in style on Wednesday night, delivering a double, triple, and home run while leading the Colorado Rockies to a commanding 10-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Rockies and ended a five-game skid against the Pirates dating back to last August.
The game's most unforgettable moment came in the first inning, when left fielder Jake McCarthy sprinted to catch a sinking line drive from Bryan Reynolds for the second out. In a flash of quick thinking, McCarthy stepped on second base to double off Oneil Cruz, completing the first unassisted double play by a left fielder in the majors since Boston's Jonny Gomes accomplished the feat on July 31, 2013, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
The Rockies' offense came alive in the fifth inning, with Kyle Karros, McCarthy, and Ezequiel Tovar each driving in runs before Moniak crushed a two-out homer to put Colorado ahead 6-3. Moniak wasn't done—he added a double in the eighth and a two-run triple in the ninth, bringing his season RBI total to 26, tops on the Rockies.
Rookie TJ Rumfield also shined, going 3-for-4 with a double and a home run. His .277 batting average ranks fourth among qualified rookies in the majors. On the mound, Antonio Senzatela (3-0) delivered three strong innings of relief, allowing just one run, while Jose Quintana struggled through four innings, giving up three runs on five hits.
The Pirates managed to score in the second inning when Henry Davis reached on a fielder's choice with the bases loaded, and Ryan O'Hearn scored from third. Nick Gonzalez was caught in a rundown but scored due to interference by Quintana. Reynolds added an RBI single in the third, and O'Hearn homered in the sixth, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Rockies' surge.
Pirates starter Mitch Keller (4-2) was perfect through four innings before unraveling in the fifth, allowing five straight hits and six runs over 5 2/3 innings. The game was delayed 26 minutes by rain at the start, but the Rockies showed no signs of being washed out.
The series concludes Thursday, with Rockies right-hander Chase Dollander (3-2, 3.35 ERA) taking the mound against Pirates righty Carmen Mlodzinski (2-3, 4.50). For fans looking to gear up like their favorite Rockies stars, don't miss our latest collection of game-day apparel—perfect for celebrating big wins like this one.