DENVER (AP) — Ezequiel Tovar hit a three-run homer to break a fifth-inning tie and the Colorado Rockies won a home series for the first time since late last season with a 10-6 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday night.

Hunter Goodman had three hits, the last a two-run homer in the eighth, and Ryan McMahon homered for the second straight game. The Rockies also have won two straight home games for the first time this season.

The Rockies had lost 17 straight home series, the final two last season and the first 15 this season. At 24-74, they remain on pace to set a major league season record for losses.

Antonio Senzatela (4-13) gave up three runs in the second inning but faced only one batter over the minimum in the next five, going seven innings for the first time this season.

Senzatela, who leads the major leagues in losses, gave up five hits and struck out three with one walk. He used an economical 78 pitches.

Kody Clemens had a double and a triple for the Twins, who have lost 12 of their last 15 road games and their last five road series.

Clemens’ two-out, two-run double made it 8-5 in the eighth, but Tyler Kinley struck out Carlos Correa with runners on second and third to end the inning.

Tovar had three hits and Mickey Moniak had three hits for the Rockies.

Zebby Matthews (1-2) gave up five runs on eight hits in four-plus innings, leaving after the first two batters reached in the fifth. He was activated from the injured list to make the start after missing six weeks with a strained shoulder.

The start of the game was delayed 38 minutes by rain.

Key moment

Goodman hit a slow roller that hugged the third base line and stayed fair in the fifth, leaving third baseman Brooks Lee no option but to hope it would go foul. It did not, Goodman got a single, and Tovar hit his tie-breaking homer three batters later.

Key stat

The Rockies are on pace for 39 wins. The Chicago White Sox were 41-121 when they set the major league record for regular-season losses a year ago.

Up next

Minnesota RHP Joe Ryan (9-4, 2.72 ERA) was set to oppose Colorado RHP German Marquez (3-10, 5.57) on Sunday.

Nuggets expect Jonas Valanciunas to be backup center amid speculation over NBA future

DENVER (AP) — A backup plan to bring in a backup center to spell Nikola Jokic no longer appears necessary.

The Denver Nuggets expect Jonas Valanciunas to be with the team when the season starts amid speculation over his NBA future.

Denver's trade with Sacramento to acquire the 6-foot-11 Valanciunas for Dario Saric became official last weekend. Leading up that, reports emerged of Valanciunas being courted by the Greek EuroLeague club team, Panathinaikos. It's led to a confusing situation given that Valanciunas still has two years remaining on his NBA deal that would pay him a total of more than $20 million.

Nuggets executive vice president of basketball operations Ben Tenzer attempted to tamp down any conjecture over Valanciunas' arrival during a news conference Friday that was set up to introduce Cam Johnson.

“There’s been nothing but healthy conversations in terms of him honoring his contract and him excited to be a Nugget,” Tenzer said of Valanciunas.

So, no concerns that Valanciunas might not be with the Nuggets to start the season?

“No concerns,” Tenzer said.

The trade for the 33-year-old Valanciunas looks to be the icing on a productive offseason that saw the front-office tandem of Tenzer and Jonathan Wallace remodel the team. The moves were in the wake of a Game 7 loss to NBA champion Oklahoma City in the second round.

The Nuggets also picked up Johnson in a deal that sent Michael Porter Jr. — a key contributor to their title run in 2023 — to Brooklyn. Denver added Bruce Brown, who was part of their championship run, and shooting guard/small forward Tim Hardaway Jr.

Tenzer said they've have had productive talks with Valanciunas, who’s slated to play for Lithuania at FIBA EuroBasket this summer. Someone from the Nuggets may even venture over there.

“Their plan is for him to get here sooner than later, but still working through that,” Wallace explained. "We’ll approach it at that time.”

Valanciunas is coming off a season in which he split time between Washington and Sacramento. He averaged 10.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and two assists over 81 games.

Denver is counting on him to give Jokic the occasional breather. The 30-year-old Jokic averaged a career-high 36.7 minutes per game last season.

A three-time NBA MVP, Jokic turned in a historic season where became the first NBA center to average a triple-double — 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds and 10.2 assists. His vision and feel for the game could take Johnson's performance to another level. Johnson averaged 18.8 points for the Nets last season.

“His best ability is just understanding where he is in space and where his teammates are in space at all times,” Johnson said of Jokic. “I find a spot, and there’s a high chance that he’s going to put the pass on time, on target.”

As for where Johnson might live in the Mile High city, he and Porter have chatted about possibly swapping houses.

“I don’t know if it will happen, but it’s being discussed right now,” Johnson said. “Obviously, when you get traded, everything’s flying around, everything’s moving. As the next couple of weeks wind down, we’ll start to become a little bit more established in our new markets and figure all that stuff out.”

He’s already received a warm welcome — and not even in Denver, either. While the former Phoenix Suns forward was having breakfast in Arizona, a table of Nuggets fans recognized him and wished him luck.

“The reception has been incredible,” Johnson said. “It has been really positive for me. Just a chance at winning is something that I really relish and something that I’ll do everything in my power to contribute to.”

Colorado Rockies minor league pitcher Eric Veras suspended 56 games following positive drug test

NEW YORK (AP) — Colorado Rockies minor league pitcher Eric Veras was suspended for 56 games Friday by Major League Baseball following a positive test for the performance-enhancing substance Boldenone.

Veras was disciplined under the drug program for minor league players assigned outside of the U.S. and Canada.

An 18-year-old left-hander, Veras was 2-0 with a 3.97 ERA in five starts this season. He signed for a $125,000 bonus in January 2024 and was 3-1 with 3.80 ERA in 10 starts last year.

Veras was the ninth player suspended this year for a positive test, the seventh under minor league programs. Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar was suspended for 80 games on March 31 and Philadelphia Phillies closer José Alvarado for 80 games on May 25 under the major league program.