There’s an old saying in baseball that you don’t need to run fast when you’re jogging around the bases. For Hunter Goodman, fresh off a frustrating stretch nursing a balky hamstring, that sentiment rang especially true at Coors Field last night. The Rockies’ slugging catcher returned to the lineup and promptly did what he’s done better than any of his teammates this season — clear the fences. Twice. In a season where the bright spots have been few and fleeting, Goodman’s powerful swing once again gave Rockies fans a glimpse of what could be… if only the rest of the story weren’t so familiar.

His first blast came early, a thunderous statement off Astros starter Colton Gordon in the opening inning. And for a moment, the thin Mile High air seemed to carry with it the faint promise of a feel-good win. But these Rockies — historically woeful, statistically staggering in their futility — have a way of reminding you that no lead, no moment of brilliance, is ever quite safe. And so, with a grand slam off the bat of Victor Caratini and a series of self-inflicted wounds, the Rockies again found themselves climbing uphill.

It wasn’t just Goodman doing damage, either. Jordan Beck, the Rockies’ young outfielder with a swing as smooth as the Colorado sunset, put together a perfect 5-for-5 night — the kind of performance that deserves to headline the story, but instead feels buried beneath yet another maddening loss. Even Tyler Freeman, the quiet catalyst at the top of the order, chipped in with an RBI double. But all of it, the hits, the home runs, the fleeting highlights, faded into the backdrop of baserunning blunders and missed opportunities.

The Rockies' unraveling has become so routine, it almost defies belief. Chase Dollander, touted as a bright spot in an otherwise bleak rotation, found himself unraveling in the third — bases loaded, nowhere to hide, and a poorly located pitch that Victor Caratini deposited beyond the wall. The 6-1 deficit, even at Coors Field, felt insurmountable for a team that simply can’t get out of its own way. Manager Warren Schaeffer, to his credit, continues to wear the look of patient resolve, but the numbers are merciless.

At 19-66, this Rockies club has drifted into the dark waters of baseball’s all-time worst teams. Their home record — tied with the 2003 Tigers for modern futility — underscores how grim things have become beneath the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. And yet, in players like Goodman and Beck, there’s a whisper of hope, a reminder that even amid the rubble, talent still flickers. It’s not enough, not yet, but it’s something.

​​For now, Goodman’s power surge strengthens his case for Atlanta’s All-Star stage — where, for at least one night, he might trade frustration for celebration. But as for the Rockies? The road ahead remains long, bumpy, and uphill — a climb they’ve yet to show they can make, no matter how many home runs Hunter Goodman jogs around to celebrate.