The Colorado Rockies have been a punching bag for most of the 2026 season. But on Sunday afternoon in Las Vegas, they decided to do the punching.
In a stunning offensive explosion against the Athletics, Colorado put 23 runs on the board — the most in franchise history, per MLB.com’s Sarah Langs. The previous high was 20. This was three more than that. And it came in a ballpark that isn’t exactly known for launching pads.
The Rockies fell behind 4-2 after the first inning. It didn’t matter. They chipped away with three runs in the second, added three more in the fourth, then unloaded a six-run fifth that effectively ended any suspense. For good measure, they dropped four in the seventh and five in the eighth. Final score: 23-9.
Leadoff man Willi Castro was the wrecking ball. He went 4-for-6 with two homers and seven RBIs. Catcher Hunter Goodman also went deep twice. In total, four different Rockies left the yard and eight different players drove in runs. Castro, Goodman and Troy Johnston each finished with at least four RBIs.
What makes this even more notable is that it didn’t happen at Coors Field. The Rockies’ offense has always benefited from the thin air of Denver, but this outburst came on the road — in Las Vegas, where the Athletics are currently playing their temporary home games. That context matters. It suggests this lineup might have a higher ceiling than most analysts gave it credit for.
Of course, one afternoon doesn’t fix a season. Colorado entered Sunday with a 26-45 record. The 23-run win moved them to 27-45. That’s still ugly. But there’s a difference between a bad team and a hopeless one, and performances like this at least hint at a pulse.
As for the Athletics, the pitching staff will want to forget this one in a hurry. Opposing hitters now have a blueprint for what could happen if they let the Rockies get comfortable at the plate. The question is whether Colorado can carry any of this momentum forward.
The franchise record is nice. A spark for the lineup would be better.
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