In a historic twist, the Colorado Rockies secured an 8-7 victory over the Washington Nationals on Saturday night with Ryan McMahon drawing a bases-loaded walk in the ninth inning due to a pitch clock violation — the first such instance in Major League Baseball history.
Trailing 7-6 entering the bottom of the ninth, the Rockies mounted a comeback as Hunter Goodman and Jake Cave started with singles off Nationals closer Kyle Finnegan. Brenton Doyle’s single to left tied the game, bringing home Goodman. Ezequiel Tovar then singled to load the bases with no outs. With a full count on McMahon, Finnegan’s violation of the pitch clock resulted in ball four, clinching the dramatic win for Colorado.
McMahon, who had a stellar game with three hits including a home run, contributed significantly alongside homers from Hunter Goodman and Brendan Rodgers.
Jalen Beeks (4-3) earned the win with 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief. For the Nationals, Luis Garcia Jr. and CJ Abrams showcased strong performances, with Abrams finishing a triple short of the cycle and driving in two runs.
The Rockies’ victory was a testament to their resilience and timely hitting, marking a memorable moment in MLB history with the unique game-ending walk-off due to a pitch clock violation.
