Mickey Moniak's 3-run homer helps MLB-worst Rockies avoid sweep with 4-2 win over D-backs

DENVER (AP) — Mickey Moniak hit a three-run homer to cap a four-run fifth inning, Antonio Senzatala won his second straight start, and the major league-worst Colorado Rockies snapped a three-game skid with a 4-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday.

The Rockies (18-60) avoided the worst record through 78 games in the modern era. The 1907 St. Louis Cardinals and 1932 Detroit Tigers also went 18-60.

Moniak hit a first-pitch changeup from Brandon Pfaadt (8-5) 385 feet down the right-field line to make it 4-2. It was his second homer of the three-game series and 11th of the season.

Senzatela (3-10) gave up two runs and four hits in 5 1/3 innings. He had won once in 14 starts before beating Washington on Tuesday.

Randal Grichuk had two hits and two RBIs for the D-backs, who were attempting to move three games over .500 for the first time since May 20.

Arizona's Eugenio Suárez doubled to extend his extra-base hit streak to four games. He is 10 for 18 with four homers, two doubles and nine RBIs over that stretch.

Seth Halvorsen retired Ketel Marte on a fly ball with a runner on second in the ninth for his sixth save, and the Rockies’ Tyler Freeman extended his hitting streak to a career-best 10 games.

Pfaadt has given up 22 earned runs in his last 18 innings.

Moniak appeared to be sitting on Pfaadt’s changeup, one of nine he threw to left-handed hitters.

The Rockies' bullpen gave up one hit in 3 2/3 scoreless innings

Diamondbacks: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (2-4, 5.93 ERA) is to oppose White Sox RHP Shane Smith (3-4, 2.85) in the first of a three-game series at Chicago.

Rockies: RHP German Marquez (3-8, 6.11) will start Tuesday's opener of a three-game series against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Seth Halvorsen works against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the ninth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies left fielder Jordan Beck catches a fly ball off the bat of Arizona Diamondbacks pinch-hitter Ketel Marte to end a baseball game Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Brandon Pfaadt reacts after giving up a three-run home run to Colorado Rockies' Mickey Moniak in the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies' Mickey Moniak gestures as he circles the bases after hitting a three-run home run off Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Brandon Pfaadt in the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies' Braxton Fulford, left, congratulates Mickey Moniak as he crosses home plate after hitting a three-run home run off Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Brandon Pfaadt in the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks rose in morning trading on Wall Street Friday, joining global markets to kick off a new year on an upbeat note.

The S&P 500 rose 0.7%. The benchmark index is coming off a gain of more than 16% in 2025.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 42 points, or 0.1%, as of 10:03 a.m. Eastern. The Nasdaq composite rose 1.3%.

Markets in Europe and Asia also made strong gains. Indexes in Britain and South Korea hit records.

The gains are helping trim some of the broader weekly losses for the market, which is closing a shortened holiday week. Markets were closed Thursday for New Year’s Day.

Technology stocks were leading the market higher, especially companies with a focus on artificial intelligence, continuing the trend that pushed the broader market to records in 2025.

Nvidia jumped 2.8% and was the biggest force pushing the market higher. Apple jumped 2% and Google's parent company, Alphabet, rose 2%. They are among the most valuable companies in the world and their outsized valuations give them more influence on the market's direction.

Technology companies have been a major focus because of advancements in artificial intelligence technology and the potential for growth within the sector. Wall Street has been betting that demand for computer chips and other items needed for data centers will help justify the big investments from technology companies and their pricey stock values.

Tesla rose 0.8% despite reporting falling sales for a second year in a row.

E-commerce giant Alibaba climbed 4.3% and Baidu, maker of the Ernie chatbot, jumped 9.4% in Hong Kong after it said it plans to spin off its AI computer chip unit Kunlunxin, which would list shares in Hong Kong early in 2027. The plan is subject to regulatory approvals.

Crude oil prices slipped. Prices for U.S. crude oil fell 1.2% to $56.73 per barrel. The price of Brent crude, the international standard, fell 1.2% to $60.13 per barrel.

Gold prices kicked off the new year with more gains. The price of gold rose 0.7%.

Treasury yields held steady in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.18% from 4.17% late Wednesday. The yield on the two-year Treasury, which moves more closely with expectations for what the Federal Reserve will do, held steady at 3.48% from late Wednesday.

AP business writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed to this report.

A screen shows the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) as participants applaud during the opening ceremony of the 2026 trading year at the Korea Exchange in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Dancers in traditional costumes perform to celebrate the opening for the 2026 trading year outside of the Korea Exchange in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A worker walks near a screen showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) after the opening ceremony of the 2026 trading year at the Korea Exchange in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

South Korean financial officers celebrate the opening for the 2026 trading year outside of the Korea Exchange in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Dancers in a bull-shaped costume perform to celebrate the opening for the 2026 trading year outside of the Korea Exchange in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)