DENVER — Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon’s power stroke has arrived, amid questions whether he’ll be leaving soon.
McMahon’s second homer in two games, a two-run shot to tie the game in the third inning, helped the Rockies to a 10-6 victory over the Twins that was a long time coming.
The struggling Rockies were 0-15 in home series this season and had dropped the previous 17 series — which, according to OptaSTATS, was tied with the 1916-17 Philadelphia Athletics for the longest skid in MLB history.
McMahon could not have envisioned his ninth season with the Rockies being a struggle. At 24-74, the team’s record is worst in the Majors this year and fifth-worst through 98 games in the Modern Era. Now on the horizon is the July 31 Trade Deadline, with multiple contending teams in need of someone like McMahon — experienced, a four-time Gold Glove Award finalist and an asset in the right lineup.
The Rockies trailed, 3-1, before McMahon bested Twins starter Zebby Matthews for his 15th home run of the season. After that, righty Antonio Senzatela went a season-best seven innings (three runs, six hits, three strikeouts) — and possibly raised eyeballs for teams that may need starter help.
The fourth year of McMahon’s six-year, $70 million contract was supposed to be better. But McMahon pressed early as he tried to pick up a lineup that often fielded backups and call-ups, with the forces of the universe playing whack-an-injury with the lineup.
Oddly, for the first two post-All-Star-break games with the Twins, the Rockies have looked a little more like they had hoped coming into 2025. Their best player, shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, returned Friday after an injury-affected first half, and on Saturday his three-run homer off Brock Stewart in the fifth inning gave the Rockies a 6-3 lead.
For two nights, Tovar and McMahon — whose leaping snag of Byron Buxton’s line drive ended the Twins’ three-run second inning against Senzatela — have looked like what they have been for two-plus seasons: one of the best infield left sides in the sport.
Now they’ll try to be as good as it gets, for as long as it lasts.
