Hunter Goodman's go-ahead homer in 8th inning lifts Rockies to 8-7 victory over Nationals

Colorado Rockies' Hunter Goodman follows the flight of his solo... — Colorado Rockies' Hunter Goodman follows the flight of his solo home run off Washington Nationals relief pitcher Clayton Beeter in the eighth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 21, 2026, in Denver. Credit: AP/David Zalubowski

By The Associated PressJuly 22, 2026 12:10 am

DENVER — Hunter Goodman hit a tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning to offset a pair of two-run shots by CJ Abrams, and the Colorado Rockies beat the Washington Nationals 8-7 on Tuesday night.

Clayton Beeter (3-3) gave up Goodman's 31st homer — on a 3-2 pitch — before Jordan Romano struck out two in the ninth for his seventh save. Juan Mejia (3-6) worked a scoreless eighth for the win.

José Tena had a two-out single off Rockies starter Michael Lorenzen in the first and Abrams homered for the third straight game for a 2-0 lead.

Mickey Moniak hit an RBI single as Colorado answered with a four-run second against rookie opener Carson Palmquist. Troy Johnston added a sacrifice fly, and Jake McCarthy doubled in a run before scoring on a two-out single by rookie Cole Carrigg, who had three of Colorado's 12 hits.

Abrams homered again — his 24th — with Tena aboard to tie it 4-all in the third. Abrams has 78 RBIs to match the Cardinals' Jordan Walker for most in the majors.

Willi Castro hit a leadoff double in the third against Nationals reliever Miles Mikolas before scoring on Kyle Karros' groundout for a 5-4 lead.

James Wood delivered a two-out, two-run double to put the Nationals ahead 6-5 and chase Lorenzen, who allowed six runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings.

Colorado Rockies' Hunter Goodman is congratulated as he returns to... — Colorado Rockies' Hunter Goodman is congratulated as he returns to the dugout after hitting a solo home run off Washington Nationals relief pitcher Clayton Beeter in the eighth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 21, 2026, in Denver. Credit: AP/David Zalubowski

Goodman doubled and scored on a two-out single by TJ Rumfield to tie it in the fifth, and Moniak led off the sixth with his 16th homer to put the Rockies ahead 7-6.

Wood doubled in the seventh off Jimmy Herget before scoring on pinch-hitter Jorbit Vivas' sacrifice fly to tie it at 7.

Palmquist was tagged for four runs and four hits over 1 2/3 innings in his seventh big league appearance, and Mikolas gave up three runs on six hits in 3 2/3 innings.