DENVER (AP) — Willi Castro and Mickey Moniak hit two-run homers and 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 with 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.
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Houston Astros' Christian Walker grounds out against Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Antonio Senzatela to end a baseball game Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Houston Astros relief pitcher Kai-Wei Teng works against the Colorado Rockies in the seventh inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Kyle Freeland works against the Houston Astros in the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Rockies' Mickey Moniak heads up the first-base line after hitting a two-run home run off Houston Astros relief pitcher Kai-Wei Teng in the seventh inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Rockies' Willi Castro gestures to the bullpen as he circles the bases after hitting a two-run home run off Houston Astros starting pitcher Mike Burrows in the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado didn't get its second series win last year until June 16-19. The Rockies won the first two games of the three-game series and clinched their first series of at least three games against the Astros since May 28-31, 2012.
Kyle Freeland (1-1) allowed one run and three hits in 6 1/3 innings. Antonio Senzatela struck out three in 2 2/3 innings for his first major league save, needing just 26 pitches and retiring all eight batters he faced while finishing a three-hitter.
Mike Burrows (1-2) allowed three runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Christian Walker's third homer in four games put Houston ahead in the second.
Castro had an RBI single in the bottom half and gave the Rockies a 3-1 lead in the fourth with his first homer for Colorado, a 436-foot drive to right-center.
Moniak homered in the seventh off Kai-Wei Teng, a drive that hit the top of the wall in front of the Rockies bullpen and bounced over.
Four of seven ABS challenges were successful on calls by plate umpire Charlie Ramos.
Colorado's TJ Rumfield had two hits and has reached base safely in all 10 games he's started this season.
Astros RHP Cristian Javier (0-1, 12.96) starts Wednesday opposite Rockies RHP Michael Lorenzen (0-1, 14.73) in the series finale.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb
Houston Astros' Christian Walker grounds out against Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Antonio Senzatela to end a baseball game Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Houston Astros relief pitcher Kai-Wei Teng works against the Colorado Rockies in the seventh inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Kyle Freeland works against the Houston Astros in the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Rockies' Mickey Moniak heads up the first-base line after hitting a two-run home run off Houston Astros relief pitcher Kai-Wei Teng in the seventh inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Rockies' Willi Castro gestures to the bullpen as he circles the bases after hitting a two-run home run off Houston Astros starting pitcher Mike Burrows in the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
