Jake Cave strengthens bond with teammates, fans with first walk-off hit to capture Rockies' win over Brewers

Jake Cave has become a man of the people.

The Colorado Rockies outfielder hit a walk-off single in the 10th inning Monday to capture the Rockies’ 8-7 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Cave's chance to end the game came after intentional walks of Brenton Doyle and Nolan Jones to load the bases.

Milwaukee brought a fifth infielder in with one out, and Cave took a first-pitch hanging slider to the gap in right field for the first walk-off hit of his seven-year career.

“I was pumped, that’s the first one for me,” Cave said. “I looked over to the dugout and I almost fell, I think, running to first because I was looking at the dugout so hard. Once I saw it was going to hit grass, it was time to party.”

Fans have grown fond of Cave for his emotions, and his leaping jog to first base on the winning hit ignited the Colorado dugout too.

Cave's teammates had rallied behind him in a previous game against Los Angeles when he stood up for reliever Victor Vodnik. A non-swing call on a checked swing led to Teoscar Hernández’s three-run home run.

After the hit, Cave screamed toward umpires in the infield and backed it up with postgame comments too.

Since then, fans have shown up with Cave signs, and social media has been flooded with content cherishing the veteran’s contributions. His teammates are warming up to him quickly too, after Cave's late addition in spring training.

“He’s loose and yet intense at the same time,” manager Bud Black said. “He knows when to be light and quick-witted and humorous, and he also knows when it’s time to get to business. It’s a really good quality to have on a baseball team.”

Pitcher Austin Gomber benefitted from Cave's support this time.

The lefty’s pace has slowed since the Rockies' franchise-record-breaking beginning. Gomber's earned run average took another hit after a rough six innings in the Rockies’ win.

What was once at the 2.76 ERA mark that has ballooned to 4.72.

Gomber was saved by defensive help early.

Nolan Jones’ outfield assist from left field in the third inning was 101.3 miles per hour. It was the hardest-thrown outfield assist in the majors in 2024 and the fastest since the outfielder outdid himself in 2023 with a 102.7 mile-per-hour throw in Chicago.

He and teammate Brenton Doyle have the hardest average velocities among outfielders this year at 97 and 98 respectively. The latter’s second two-home-run game was a much-needed bonus.

The defense couldn’t help early in the fourth when Gomber allowed four consecutive hits and two runs. Ryan McMahon’s acrobatic double play with a throw from third to first was the lone barrier between Colorado trailing and being tied 3-3.

“I’ve got to find a way to keep more zeros on the board,” Gomber said. “Big innings can’t happen. I feel like I had an opportunity to go really deep into the game and didn’t pitch well enough to earn the opportunity.”

Gomber allowed 24 earned runs in five June starts over 23 innings. Opponents hit .350 against him to stack up lofty run totals, the worst of which came against Minnesota when he nearly set a new career-high with eight earned runs allowed on June 12.

Doyle’s two-home-run game, Jones’ rocket throw and Cave’s walk-off helped prop him up on Monday.

It won’t slow the hype train for a new fan favorite either.

Rockies 8, Brewers 7 (10)

What Happened: Jake Cave took advantage of back-to-back intentional walks by Milwaukee to load the bases. He hit a walk-off single for the first of his career to lock in the Rockies’ first back-to-back wins since May.

On the mound: Austin Gomber allowed four earned runs on nine hits over six innings. It was the sixth consecutive start he has allowed at least three and his ERA has ballooned from 2.76 to 4.72 amid the struggles. Anthony Molina allowed another three to break his five-game scoreless streak before Victor Vodnik and Tyler Kinley fired scoreless frames to allow a walk-off win in the 10th.

At the plate: Brenton Doyle had his second two-home-run game after doing it in Cincinnati last season. His second tied the game at 7-7 for Colorado. It was part of a three-hit day. Charlie Blackmon hit his third birthday home run and trails only Todd Helton’s five in Rockies’ history. He added a single too. The pair joined five Rockies’ hitters with multiple hits. Colorado had 13 hits, its most since June 15 and struck out four times after setting a season-high with 21 in Sunday’s extra-inning win over the White Sox.

What’s next: Milwaukee Brewers (LHP Dallas Keuchel, 0-0; 11.25) at Colorado Rockies (RHP Ryan Feltner, 1-7; 5.82) on Tuesday at 6:40 p.m. at Coors Field.