Rockies Demolish Reds Behind Goodman’s Two-Homer Barrage

Sometimes a game is decided before the first inning ends, and Wednesday night at Great American Ball Park was precisely that kind of mismatch. The Colorado Rockies didn’t just beat the Cincinnati Reds, they absolutely demolished them 13-2, in what can only be described as a comprehensive shellacking that left no doubt about who belonged and who didn’t on this particular evening.

Brett Sullivan set the tone immediately with a two-out double in the top of the first that cleared the bases, plating three runs in one swing. That’s the kind of aggressive, timely hitting that separates good teams from pretenders. The Reds never recovered from that initial gut punch, and frankly, they never really had a chance once Tomoyuki Sugano took the mound.

Sugano and Goodman Lead the Assault

Sugano was absolutely masterful through 5.1 innings of work, allowing just four hits and zero runs while walking three and striking out two. That’s elite-level pitching against a Reds lineup that came in looking to make some noise. His economical approach and command kept Cincinnati off-balance all night, and the Reds’ hitters looked utterly lost at the plate.

But the real story here was Hunter Goodman, who went on an absolute tear that would make any opposing pitcher lose sleep. The Rockies catcher crushed two home runs, including a two-run shot in the seventh inning that put this game completely out of reach. Goodman finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs and proved once again why he’s becoming one of the most dangerous hitters in the National League. When you can put a catcher who can hit like that into your lineup, it changes the entire dynamic of your offense.

The Rockies’ offense was simply relentless. Beyond Sullivan and Goodman, they got contributions from seemingly everyone in the lineup. Willi Castro doubled in a run in the third. Ezequiel Tovar delivered clutch hitting in the ninth with an RBI single. Mickey Moniak added a ground-rule double. Kyle Karros contributed a sacrifice fly. This wasn’t a one-man show; it was a complete team offensive performance that the Reds had absolutely no answer for.

Williamson’s Brief Nightmare

Brandon Williamson’s outing was a disaster, plain and simple. The Reds starter lasted just three innings, surrendering four hits and four runs while walking four and striking out four. That’s the kind of line that gets you a long look from the coaching staff and a possible trip back to the bullpen. Terry Francona’s got bigger fish to fry, but Williamson sure didn’t help matters on Wednesday.

Cincinnati’s only moments of dignity came in the ninth inning when Will Benson launched a two-run homer, a consolation prize in a game where consolation was all the Reds could manage. It was the equivalent of finding a dollar bill in a coat pocket after losing your wallet: technically something, but not worth celebrating.

This wasn’t even close to a competitive game after the third inning. The Rockies came to Ohio and reminded everyone why you can’t afford to have one of your starters get shelled early. Colorado’s road woes might be a thing of the past if they continue playing like this, and Cincinnati’s got some serious soul-searching to do after getting dismantled this thoroughly at home.