Castro's 3 RBIs lead Rockies over Astros 5-1 for second series win

Colorado Rockies beat the Houston Astros for their second series win, which they didn't accomplish last year until mid-June.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 3:42am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball game in motion, with players and the field broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes and planes of color.An abstract, cubist-inspired illustration captures the dynamic energy and competitive spirit of a high-stakes baseball matchup between the Colorado Rockies and Houston Astros.Denver Today

Willi Castro and Mickey Moniak hit two-run homers as the Colorado Rockies beat the Houston Astros 5-1 on Tuesday night for their second series win, which they didn't accomplish last year until mid-June. Castro had three hits and three RBIs for Colorado, which has won three straight and is 5-6. The Rockies didn't get their fifth win last year until April 30, when they were 5-25 en route to a major league-worst 43-119 record.

Why it matters

The Rockies' early-season success is a significant turnaround from their dismal 2022 campaign, when they struggled to win games and series throughout the year. This series win against the Astros, one of the top teams in the American League, demonstrates that the Rockies may be poised for a more competitive season in 2023.

The details

Kyle Freeland (1-1) allowed one run and three hits in 6 1/3 innings for the Rockies, while Antonio Senzatela struck out three in 2 2/3 innings for his first major league save. Mike Burrows (1-2) took the loss for the Astros, allowing three runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. Christian Walker's third homer in four games put Houston ahead in the second, but Castro's RBI single in the bottom half and his two-run homer in the fourth gave the Rockies a 3-1 lead. Moniak's two-run homer in the seventh extended Colorado's lead.

  • The Rockies didn't get their fifth win last year until April 30, when they were 5-25 en route to a major league-worst 43-119 record.
  • The Rockies didn't get their second series win last year until June 16-19.

The players

Willi Castro

A Colorado Rockies player who had three hits and three RBIs in the game.

Mickey Moniak

A Colorado Rockies player who hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning.

Kyle Freeland

The Colorado Rockies pitcher who allowed one run and three hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Antonio Senzatela

The Colorado Rockies pitcher who struck out three in 2 2/3 innings for his first major league save.

Mike Burrows

The Houston Astros pitcher who allowed three runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.

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What’s next

The Astros and Rockies will face off again on Wednesday, with Houston's Cristian Javier (0-1, 12.96) starting against Colorado's Michael Lorenzen (0-1, 14.73) in the series finale.

The takeaway

The Rockies' early-season success, including this series win against the Astros, suggests the team may be poised for a more competitive season in 2023 after their dismal 2022 campaign. The team's ability to win series early on is a positive sign, especially after struggling to do so for much of last year.