In a baseball field far, far away, the Colorado Rockies valiantly began a desperate battle against the invading Minnesota Twins. Possessing a burdensome knowledge of their current plight this season, our purple-clad heroes dug deep to find strength on the mound and at the plate to secure the series victory with a 10-6 win.
The Phantom Menace
There’s no mystery that the Rockies have struggled mightily this season. Entering the game, the team had yet to win back-to-back games at Coors Field and had lost 17 consecutive
home series dating back to 2024. It was tied with the 1916-17 Philadelphia Athletics for the longest home series losing streak in MLB history.
There was also the matter of Antonio Senzatela’s struggles on the mound, particularly in the first inning. Luckily, he was able to navigate the inning effectively, but there caution would still be needed as the game went on.
Attack of the Twins
Minnesota wasted no time in the second inning getting after Senzatela. Three straight extra-base hits to lead off the inning were reminiscent of the Rockies' first inning on Friday, giving the Twins an early 2-0 lead. After Brooks Lee grounded out, Matt Wallner singled to right field, making it a 3-0 ballgame. Senzatela rebounded with a strikeout and narrowly avoided further damage thanks to a stellar force jump by Ryan McMahon to rob Byron Buxton of a hit.
Revenge of the Fifth
The Rockies clawed their way back to tie the game 3-3 before finally pulling ahead with a crucial fifth inning.
Mickey Moniak and Hunter Goodman led off the inning with back-to-back singles. The Twins went to the bullpen and quickly got two outs. With two on and two out, Ezequiel Tovar stepped up to the plate and blasted a 96 mph first-pitch fastball 433 feet to center field for a three-run home run, his fourth of the season, giving the Rockies a 6-3 lead.
A New Hope
The Rockies have come to expect production out of certain players this season, but a promising sign was a two-hit performance by Brenton Doyle, an RBI double for Ryan Ritter, and another three-hit game by Moniak.
Ritter is getting an audition at playing second base every day, and he did drop a beautiful bunt in the middle innings, but he had to exit as the pitch hit him in the finger. He pinched his finger, but the hope is that it’s nothing serious.
Punch it, Chewie! pic.twitter.com/rcQny96ejI
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) July 20, 2025
RyMac Strikes Back
McMahon’s season has mirrored that of his club. At times, he has looked ready to turn a corner but then falls back into a slump. However, he has gotten off to a hot start in the second half as the Trade Deadline looms in a couple of weeks.
A night after hitting a home run, McMahon clubbed a two-run home run in the bottom of the second that initially tied the game 3-3. It was his 15th of the year.
“Do or do not, there is no try” - Ryan McMahon pic.twitter.com/Rl0WUP05Vn
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) July 20, 2025
Return of the Senze
Sorely needing a strong start, Senzatela dipped back into the form that made him so effective for the Rockies several years ago. After allowing three runs in the second inning, Senzatela found his groove and became extremely efficient.
He went seven innings, allowing three runs on six hits with three strikeouts and just one walk. He allowed just two hits after the second inning, induced two crucial double plays, and threw 78 pitches. It was the fourth time a Rockies starter has gone seven innings this season and the first since Germán Márquez on May 22.
The Taco’s Awakens
While Senze got it done on the mound, the offense did their part wholesale for the second straight night.
The lineup combined for 15 hits, with all but one starter getting a hit. Four players had multi-hit games as the team went 3-for-10 with runners in scoring position. The Rockies ended up having a base runner in every inning they hit. Their 28 hits over the last two games were the most in a two-game span this season for the club.
Colorado achieved taco’s in the sixth when Tyler Freeman doubled to left field to score Brenton Doyle, making it 7-3, before coming in to score on a Goodman ground out.
The Last Dinger
Goodman also added to the offense with a revenge homer in the eighth inning. After two runs came in to score for the Twins in the eighth against Juan Meja, Goodman belted a two-run home run to right field for his 18th of the year, giving the Rockies a 10-5 lead.
Lightspeed, Goody! pic.twitter.com/9KHfKmgrto
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) July 20, 2025
It proved crucial to widen the gap since Minnesota added a run in the ninth against Zach Agnos, who eventually shut the door in the top of the ninth for a 10-6 finish.
The Rise of Tovar
One of the highlights of the series thus far has been the return of Tovar and he didn’t disappoint. He delivered a three-hit game, including a home run, while driving in three runs and scoring two.
The team has missed him in his absence and this was the kind of production they expect out of the budding star.
The Force is strong with this one ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/cgIASqjXzp
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) July 20, 2025
Up Next
The series finale takes place at 1:10 p.m. MDT.
Germán Márquez (3-10, 5.57 ERA) will toe the rubber for the Rockies while Joe Ryan (9-4, 2.72 ERA) looks to keep his strong season rolling for the Twins.
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