Tovar’s 12th-inning single gives the Colorado Rockies a 9-8 victory, snapping the Boston Red Sox’ losing streak to four games

Ezequiel Tovar drove in the winning run with the bases loaded and two outs in the 12th inning Monday night, helping the Colorado Rockies secure a 9-8 victory over Boston that gave the Red Sox their fourth straight loss since the All-Star break.

Teammate Sam Hilliard compared Tovar’s performance to Michael Jordan’s legendary flu game. Hilliard, who hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning to tie the game at 7-7, praised Tovar for his determination despite not being in the lineup the night before due to illness.

“Tovey wasn’t feeling well yesterday and didn’t play. When you come back tonight and get the game-winning hit, you can see he was fighting,” Hilliard said. “The effort he showed tonight was impressive.”

The Rockies came back in the 12th inning when Jake Cave singled off rookie Bailey Horn (0-1), scoring Brendan Rodgers and tying the game. Cave advanced to second on a fielding error by left fielder Tyler O’Neill, and Jacob Stallings was walked intentionally to load the bases.

Hilliard sacrificed to move the runners before Horn retired Charlie Blackmon. Chase Anderson replaced Horn.

Tovar, who extended his hitting streak to nine games with three hits, delivered the game-winning hit. Blackmon contributed two hits, including his seventh home run. Despite being in last place, the Rockies have now won four of their last five games.

Rockies manager Bud Black praised his team’s resilience and pointed out the importance of key hits in a hard-fought game.

“It was a tough game, and whoever lost it, they felt it,” Black said. “Our guys showed a lot of grit and determination. We had some clutch hits.” Justin Lawrence (3-3) pitched two innings to earn the win.

Boston briefly took an 8-7 lead in the top of the 12th inning on Wilyer Abreu’s two-out RBI single. The Red Sox, missing closer Kenley Jansen because of concerns about Denver’s height, saw manager Alex Cora ejected after the 11th inning.

“We had some disagreements with the umpire’s call in the 11th,” Cora explained. “Umpires have a tough job in baseball.” Stallings lined a ball to second for the first out in the 10th inning before Hilliard hit a home run off Zack Kelly.

“I reminded myself to stay compact and not try to do too much. I hit the ball well and it went,” said Hilliard, who has hit three home runs in 36 plate appearances since joining on June 21.

“These guys never give up. We’re always ready to fight and believe we can beat any team. Whether it’s playing spoilsport or whatever you want to call it.”

Boston turned double plays in the eighth, ninth and eleventh innings, with the first two ending the inning.

Pinch-hitter Dominic Smith doubled to score the first run, and Rafael Devers added a sacrifice fly in Boston’s two-run 10th to take a 7-5 lead. Hilliard tied the game, however, with a 450-foot home run with one out in the bottom half.

O’Neill had three hits for the Red Sox, who were defeated last week at Dodger Stadium but are the third-best away team in the majors at 29-21.

“The last four games have been challenging for us, but that’s it,” O’Neill said. “We’ve been one strike away, one out away, in all these games here. It’s just one of those periods. We’ve got confidence in ourselves.”

Boston starter Tanner Houck allowed four runs and 10 hits in six innings. He entered the game with a 2.54 ERA, fourth-lowest in the majors.

Blackmon hit a two-run homer off Houck in the Rockies’ four-run third inning. Boston responded with four runs in the fifth, including Jamie Westbrook’s three-run homer off Austin Gomber. Westbrook is in his 11th professional season, but his first in the majors.

“Overall, my stuff just wasn’t as sharp,” said Houck, who was making his Coors Field debut. “I wasn’t performing as well as I normally would. Ultimately, it comes down to fine-tuning.”

Gomber allowed four runs and six hits, five of them in the fifth inning. He struck out five and hit one in 5 2/3 innings. “I made one error and gave up a three-run home run,” Gomber said. “It’s the best ball I’ve thrown since 2021, as far as my stuff goes.”