Eli Whitney | July 4, 2026
Jake McCarthy has done a lot of damage this season, but he’d never done anything like this. The Rockies’ leadoff man homered on the first pitch he saw, added a grand slam in the fifth, and stole a base in between — becoming, per OptaSTATS, the first player in major-league history to record a leadoff home run, a grand slam, and a stolen base in the same game. His six RBIs powered a 15-3 rout of the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at a sold-out Coors Field, the Rockies’ second straight blowout and third consecutive win.
For the second night in a row, Colorado hung at least 14 on an opponent, becoming just the fourth team in franchise history to do so. The lineup pounded reigning NL Pitcher of the Month Logan Webb from the outset — McCarthy’s first-pitch homer keyed a three-run first, and the Giants ace was gone after three innings, charged with seven earned runs on 11 hits.
“We just came out aggressive,” manager Warren Schaeffer said. “Logan Webb is one of the best pitchers in the league, and we just strung some hits together.”
McCarthy waved off the historical footnote with a grin.
“Sounds like we’re just cherry-picking records,” he said. “But no, it’s cool. The sport has been around a long time, so I’m honored.”
He credited the at-bats around him for the contagious rhythm, singling out an 11-pitch battle from Ezequiel Tovar that he watched from the on-deck circle.
“Besides my first at-bat, it seemed like I was on deck for 12 pitches watching Tovi battle and have a really good at-bat,” McCarthy said. “It’s contagious. It helps.”
That Tovar at-bat produced one of the night’s signature swings. Mired in a season-long slump, the shortstop fouled off pitch after pitch before launching a two-run homer to right-center on the 11th pitch — the first Rockie homer that deep into an at-bat since 2019. Schaeffer called it Tovar’s best moment of the year.
“That at-bat with the homer was incredible,” he said. “Maybe the best at-bat from anybody we’ve had all year, with the oppo homer after battling. I’m incredibly happy for him, because he’s been struggling a little bit this year.”
Cole Carrigg chipped in two triples and three RBI, becoming the first Rockie with a two-triple game since 2022.
Ryan Feltner set the tone on the mound, striking out a season-high nine without a walk over six innings while allowing two earned runs. It was his third straight quality start, the first Rockies pitcher to accomplish that this season.
“His fastball with cut was working tonight, good changeup, good slider,” Schaeffer said. “There was that fourth inning where he got a little frustrated after an error, but he reeled it back in and got us through six.”
The lasting image, though, belonged to Gabriel Hughes.
Making his major-league debut in front of a sellout crowd of 47,655 on the eve of the Fourth of July, the rookie went three scoreless innings and — almost incidentally — picked up a save, becoming the second Rockie this season to earn one in his big league debut. He didn’t even realize it until afterward.
“I didn’t know that was a save until after the game,” Hughes said. “I’m not really familiar with the rules for saves, but hey, I’ll take it. Senza just told me it took him 10 years to get one. I got mine in my first game.”
Hughes had learned of his call-up late Tuesday night, and by Friday his entire family — parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, his girlfriend — had made it to Denver to watch. When he jogged out for the ninth with the crowd holding phone lights aloft, the weight of the moment hit him.
“That’s the first time that’s ever happened in my life,” Hughes said. “The lights are going, everyone’s waving their flashlights, and I just got chills. I cannot believe how much this is affecting me, in such a positive way. It was life-altering.”
Schaeffer, who never reached the majors himself as a player, appreciated what the night meant.
“I thought he was fearless. The moment wasn’t too big for him,” the manager said. “I hope his family was here to see it.”
The Rockies improved to 36-53, and to 3-0 in July — their first 3-0 start to a month since 2023. For a club that has spent the season insisting its best baseball is ahead of it, back-to-back offensive explosions and a debut to remember made for a convincing argument.
“We’re moving in the right direction,” McCarthy said. “We’re playing a good brand of baseball. Our best is in front of us.”
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