Hunter Goodman's Two Homers Fuel a 23-Run Bomb, and the Cubs Have Zero Answers Right Now

Alright, listen up, Emerald City! You gotta see what just went down in Vegas, because it was absolutely bonkers. The Colorado Rockies, yes, *those* Rockies, just put up a mind-blowing 23 runs in a single game against the A's on Sunday. Twenty-three! Are you kidding me? This wasn't just a win, it was an absolute demolition, a record-setting offensive explosion that saw seven of their batters snag multi-hit games. And now, they're heading to Chicago to face the Cubs, who are probably still trying to figure out what hit them last week.

Rockies Offense Just Went Full Nuclear

Seriously, the highlights from that Rockies game are insane. Catcher Hunter Goodman was an absolute monster, going 5-for-6 with four RBIs and three runs scored. Oh, and he blasted two of the team's six homers in that romp. But wait, there's more! Willi Castro wasn't messing around either, adding a grand slam and finishing 4-for-6 with seven RBIs. Goodman nailed it after the game, saying, "I feel like this is a big confidence boost for us as a team going into this next series." He even gave props to Castro for battling at the plate, even when they were already up big. That kind of focus is dangerous, folks. It's the kind of momentum that can carry a team for weeks, and the Cubs are walking right into it. Now, here's the wild part: Rockies right-hander Michael Lorenzen (2-8, 7.54 ERA) is scheduled to pitch Monday. This dude leads the majors with 101 hits allowed in just 65 2/3 innings, which is not exactly confidence-inspiring. BUT, in his last outing against the Cubs just last Wednesday, he somehow limited them to only one run on two hits and two walks over five innings. Can he replicate that magic? Or will the Cubs feast on his league-leading hit count? It's a total toss-up, and you gotta wonder if that 23-run outburst gives Lorenzen a little extra cushion or a ton of pressure to match it.

Cubs Looking For Consistency After Rough Stretch

The Cubs, on the other hand, are heading home after dropping a 5-1 game to the Giants on Sunday, snapping a three-game winning streak. Logan Webb shut them down, holding them to seven hits and one unearned run. This comes after a month where Chicago has really struggled, especially after putting together two ten-game winning streaks earlier in May. Pete Crow-Armstrong, their center fielder, is definitely a bright spot though. He's been on fire in June, hitting .392 (20-for-51) with five home runs in a dozen games. He and Alex Bregman, their 1-2 hitters, both went 2-for-4 in Sunday's loss, so at least some bats are hot. Bregman's trying to stay positive, saying they felt better "all phases of the game" in the last three days and hoping to "continue to build off that." They'll have left-hander Shota Imanaga (4-6, 4.44) on the mound Monday. He dueled Lorenzen last week, throwing five scoreless innings against the Rockies but got a no-decision. Historically, Imanaga has owned the Rockies, allowing just four hits and two walks while striking out 16 across 11 innings in his two career appearances against them. His last start against them, back on April 1, 2024, was a six-inning, nine-strikeout shutout. So, it's a classic battle of a red-hot offense against a pitcher who usually shuts them down. This series is going to be a real test for both teams, showing us what their true identity is early in the season. Can the Rockies keep that unbelievable offensive energy going, or will Imanaga cool them off? And speaking of rough outings, our own Mariners just got smacked 10-1 by the Nationals today. A tough one for Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez to shake off. Hopefully, they bounce back fast, because we know this team has more in the tank!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.