The Rockies wasted no time jumping on Nationals starter Jake Irvin. In the bottom of the first inning, Tyler Freeman singled and scored courtesy of catcher Hunter Goodman’s two-run home run to left-center—just the kind of fast start Colorado needed. The blast set a hopeful tone, putting Colorado ahead 2–0.

Washington answered in the fourth inning when Amed Rosario’s sacrifice fly plated CJ Abrams, cutting the deficit to 2–1. The momentum then tilted heavily in favor of D.C. in the fifth inning as Daylen Lile, recently called up, drilled his first Major League homer to right, bringing the Nats back within one after Michael Toglia had singled in a run in the top of the fifth.
Moments later, James Wood—himself already red hot—launched a two-run shot to left field, giving Washington their first lead of the night at 4–3.

On the mound, Irvin held the Rockies in check through six innings, surrendering only three runs on five hits while striking out five. Colorado’s starter, Carson Palmquist, filling in for the injured Kyle Freeland, gave up four runs, in 4 2/3 innings, issuing three walks against two strikeouts.

However, the Rockies garned from relief from the bullpen as Juan Mejia, Jimmy Herget and Victor Vodnik stabilized the game with 3 1/3 hitless innings through the eighth, handing the Rockies a chance to swing things back in the ninth.

The top of the ninth turned what looked like a safe Nationals win into a Rockies miracle:

Goodman, having homered earlier, led off with a solo shot to center—his second of the evening—tying the game at 4–4. Following a Thairo Estrada single and then Sam Hilliard’s pinch-running and stolen base, Mickey Moniak, who had tripled earlier, smashed a two-run homer into the bullpen in right field, flipping the score to 6–4 in Colorado’s favor. It was all that was needed for Seth Halvorsen, who, despite walking the leadoff batter, induced a double play followed by a game-ending groundout to lock down his fourth save of the season.

What felt like a Nationals mid-game blowout quickly disintegrated under relentless Rockies pressure. Goodman’s dual homers and Moniak’s heroics showcased Colorado’s fight – a small spark of resilience in a tough season. For Washington, the loss deepens cracks, has they have lost nine-straight games, turning a once-promising homestand into a prolonged slump.

The Rockies kick off game two on Tuesday with Antonio Senzatela set to face off against Mike Soroka.