Hitting in the top spot for the first time since March 31, McCarthy hit a single in the first, stole second, and scored on TJ Rumfield\u2019s single. McCarthy scorched a triple to right-center to lead off the fifth and scored on Tyler Freeman\u2019s single.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s a good opportunity to steal bases in the first at-bat of the game, if you get on,\u201d said McCarthy, who is slashing\u00a0 326\/.367\/.587 across 15 games in May.\u00a0 \u201cThat first inning was a good example of getting on \u2026 and it\u2019s fun to make things happen.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
McCarthy is one of the fastest players in the majors. He showed off his speed with his triple, giving himself a green light from the jump.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think as an outfielder, I just know that the right-center gap, or even the left-center gap, is far away,\u201d said McCarthy, whose three triples lead the team. \u201cI know it\u2019s going to take a really good throw to get me out at third. I\u2019ve just got to find slug (slugging percentage) somehow, so I\u2019m always looking to take extra bases.\u201d<\/p>\n
Manager Warren Schaeffer is excited about the prospect of McCarthy jumpstarting the offense from the top of the order.<\/p>\n
\u201cJake has all of the skill set to hit at the top,\u201d Schaeffer said. \u201cIn today\u2019s game, it\u2019s not necessary to have a bunch of speed to hit at the top, but it adds to it, for sure. His bat is really good right now and has been for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n
McCarthy appears to be in line to replace the slumping Edouard Julien <\/a>in the leadoff spot. After batting .324 (23 for 71) during March\/April, Julien is hitting a .065 (3 for 46) average and is 1 for 32 over his last 11 games.<\/p>\n Schaeffer definitely sees McCarthy \u2014 when he\u2019s hot \u2014 as a game-changing weapon.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s how Jake plays the game and you feel like he\u2019s always going to take the extra base,\u201d the manager said. \u201cYou felt like that when he was with the Diamondbacks and he did it against us. I know the feeling that puts on you \u2014 the pressure \u2014 so, we\u2019re lucky to have him.\u201d<\/p>\n Losing cause. Colorado fell to 5-13 in May and has not won a series this month after dropping two of three to Texas. The Rockies are 1-6 in rubber matches this season.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n Wednesday\u2019s loss was particularly harsh. The Rockies led 4-3 heading into the ninth and reliever Brennan Bernardino struck out Danny Jansen to open the inning. But Joc Pederson reached on catcher\u2019s interference by Brett Sullivan, and then Justin Foscue and Alejandro Osuna singled to load the bases.<\/p>\n Roberto Mejia replaced Bernardino, but Sullivan misplayed Mejia\u2019s 0-1 fastball to Josh Jung, and Pederson scored, tying the game 4-4. Sullivan was charged with a passed ball. Jung then singled to drive in Foscue with the go-ahead run.\n<\/p>\n Asked to explain Colorado\u2019s failure to win close ballgames, Schaeffer said, \u201cThere\u2019s nothing to address. They know. They are in the process of learning how to win. We had exactly what we wanted there in the ninth inning. lt was just unfortunate, it didn\u2019t work out. Some things just didn\u2019t go our way today.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Texas](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Rangers-Rockies-Baseball.jpg\")
Texas Rangers second baseman Justin Foscue, center, applies a late tag as Colorado Rockies’ Jake McCarthy steals second base in the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo\/David Zalubowski)<\/p>\n