Astros' hot offense not enough to overcome Rockies' 8-run inning

Astros' pitching struggles as they lose to Rockies despite strong offensive performance

Apr. 7, 2026 at 7:35am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball game, with sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the players and action on the field.The Astros' high-powered offense couldn't overcome the Rockies' explosive eight-run inning, exposing the team's pitching depth issues.Denver Today

The Houston Astros' high-powered offense couldn't overcome an eight-run fifth inning by the Colorado Rockies, leading to a 9-7 loss in their series opener at Coors Field. The Astros were without ace Hunter Brown, who was placed on the injured list, and their replacement pitchers struggled, with Ryan Weiss giving up four singles, three doubles and a triple in the Rockies' big inning.

Why it matters

The Astros' loss highlights their pitching depth issues, with several inexperienced starters being called upon to fill in for injured and departed players. The team's offense continues to produce, but their ability to navigate Brown's absence will be crucial as they aim to defend their World Series title.

The details

Astros starter Cody Bolton was effective through the first four innings, but ran into trouble in the fifth, with runners on second and third and one out. Manager Joe Espada brought in reliever Ryan Weiss, who struggled mightily, surrendering four singles, three doubles and a triple as the Rockies sent 14 batters to the plate and scored eight runs. Shortstop Jeremy Peña also made a pair of costly defensive mistakes in the inning.

  • The Astros placed ace right-hander Hunter Brown on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder strain a day before this game.
  • The Astros' offense came into the game averaging 8.5 runs per game over their previous eight contests.

The players

Joe Espada

The manager of the Houston Astros.

Cody Bolton

The Astros' starting pitcher, making his first MLB start.

Ryan Weiss

The Astros' reliever who struggled in the eighth-run fifth inning.

Jeremy Peña

The Astros' shortstop who made a pair of costly defensive mistakes in the fifth inning.

Cam Smith

The Astros' hitter who hit a double and a 462-foot home run in the game.

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What they’re saying

“Things got out of hand in that inning. Our offense kept on grinding, fighting to the end.”

— Joe Espada, Manager

“It wasn't fun. I did not execute early in my outing, and I think that's what hurt me. … I've got to be able to make some better pitches when I first come into the inning.”

— Ryan Weiss, Pitcher

“I just had a bad read on it. I tried to read the swing, and I read something different. It's unfortunate the way it played out, but yeah, no excuse.”

— Jeremy Peña, Shortstop

What’s next

The Astros will look to bounce back in the next game of the series as they continue to navigate the absence of ace Hunter Brown.

The takeaway

The Astros' offensive firepower has kept them competitive, but their pitching depth will be tested as they try to overcome the loss of key starters. How they adapt and adjust their rotation could determine their ability to defend their World Series title.