In a season filled with negativity, the Colorado Rockies rejoiced with a rare feat on Tuesday night on the positive side of the record books. A seven-home run by the Rox contributed to a three-game winning streak and a 10-6 win over the Washington Nationals. The seven home runs tied a franchise single-game record accomplished on May 31, 2016, against the Reds and April 5, 1997, at Montreal. And their four home runs in the eighth inning was the fourth time in club history and the first time it’s happened on the road.

It was the second three-game winning streak for the Rockies this season, both happening in June. The first was a three-game sweep of the Miami Marlins. The Rockies have won seven of their past 14 games in the process. For the Nationals, it was the 10th straight loss, the longest losing streak in Major League Baseball.

It wasn’t only what the Rockies did with their in-season home run derby and how they did it. Making it a rare feat for the Rockies was that they became the second team in the Modern Era to homer seven times but finish with 10 or fewer hits. The other time that feat was accomplished was August 4, 2022, for the Angels against the Athletics. In that game, for the Angels, Mickey Moniak hit the seventh homer with his first at-bat in L.A. This time, Mickey Moniak, wearing a Rockies uniform, did it again.

“I don’t think I’ve ever gone up to home plate trying to hit a homer. I’m just trying to put a good swing on the ball,” said Moniak, who signed with the Rockies on March 26 after the Angels released him late in Spring Training. He now has nine homers.

“That [2022] game, that was my first hit as an Angel. So I was definitely not trying to hit a home run. I was just trying to get on base. That’s one of those weird, wacky stats in baseball, and to say I’m a part of it is pretty cool. It’s something to tell my grandkids and kids and so forth.”

On Monday night, Moniak also made the difference in the Rocky’s 6-4 win in Washington, D.C. He hit a ninth-inning home run to put the Rockies over the top in the series’ opening game against the Nats.

“In life, not just baseball, you get tossed tough situations,” said Moniak. “At least in my view, it’s how you react to them, how you react to adversity, and keep putting one foot in front of the other and just grow. We could have let the start of the season weigh on us and beat us down. I don’t think we’ve done that. We’re starting to play with more confidence, starting to show up to the field and expect to win the game instead of trying not to lose.”

Tuesday’s victory moved the Rockies to 16-57, one game better than the 1932 Red Sox, who now own the worst 73-game start (15-58) in the Modern Era. “Adding late has been a trend lately -- a good trend,” interim manager Warren Schaeffer said. “The coaches preach that we don’t quit until the game is over. You saw that tonight.”

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