The Colorado Rockies pulled off an amazing victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night, erasing a daunting 9-0 deficit to secure a 17-16 walk-off victory thanks to a two-run homer by outfielder Brenton Doyle.
The Rockies have become only the third team in the past five decades to win a game after allowing nine or more runs in the first inning, achieving a feat last accomplished by the Cleveland Guardians in 2006. This loss marks the first time the Pirates have been defeated while scoring 16 or more runs since 1893. Moreover, this game was the first in MLB history where both teams scored 16 or more runs since a matchup in 2008 between the Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox.
Teams’ Historic Losses
| Team (loser) | Date | Opponent (winner) | Final |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Pirates | Aug. 1, 2025 | Colorado Rockies | 17-16 |
| Texas Rangers | Aug. 12, 2008 | Boston Red Sox | 19-17 |
| Detroit Tigers | Sept. 14, 1998 | Chicago White Sox | 17-16 |
| Oakland Athletics | May 5, 2000 | Texas Rangers | 17-16 |
Initially, the Pirates dominated, joining the ranks of Major League history as the second team to score 9+ runs and have 10+ hits in the first inning, highlighted by Oneil Cruz’s grand slam and a three-run homer from Andrew McCutchen. However, the Rockies chipped away at the lead, bringing it down to 9-4 in the third, 15-10 in the fifth and 16-12 in the eighth inning.
In the ninth inning, the Rockies exploded against Pirates’ reliever Dennis Santana. Hunter Goodman connected for a one-out homer to narrow the gap before Jordan Beck walked, coming home on a triple from Warming Bernabel. Thairo Estrada added a single to bring Bernabel home, setting the stage for Doyle’s heroics.
BRENTON DOYLE
Twitter link for Brent Doyle
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) [August 2, 2025]
The nine-run comeback ties the largest in Rockies history, matching their feats against the Atlanta Braves in 2010 and the Miami Marlins in 2008.
