Rockies recover from missed chances, win in walkoff
After missing chances with runners in scoring position throughout the game, the Colorado Rockies put two big hits together in the bottom of the ninth inning with a game-tying double by Carlos Gonzalez and a three-run, walkoff home run by Jason Giambi, the third walkoff win for the Rockies this season.
Through the first eight innings the Rockies were 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position. Rockies hitters struck out to end an inning with a runner in scoring position four times — in the fourth, fifth, sixth and eighth innings, one time each for pitcher Kevin Millwood, Troy Tulowtizki, Seth Smith and Ty Wigginton — and left eight runners on base. But the Rockies erased the missed opportunities with a little luck and a pair of big hits.
The first two hitters of the ninth went quickly, pinch-hitter Mark Ellis on a fly out to right and Eric Young Jr. on a groundout to shortstop. Dexter Fowler dropped in a bloop single to center, but nearly ran the Rockies out of the game. He rounded first without stopping, but second baseman Alfredo Amazaga got the ball back in quickly to third baseman Greg Dobbs, who ran over to cover second. Fowler was trapped and retreated to first, until a bad throw to first let him out of the rundown and safely to second.
Gonzalez then doubled to right off Marlins closer Leo Nunez to tie the game at 4-4. Tulowtizki was intentionally walked and left-hander Randy Choate brought in to face Giambi, who hit a 1-2 slider over the scoreboard in right to give the Rockies a 7-4 win.
The Rockies’ first run came in the second inning when Jonathan Herrera nearly grounded into an inning-ending double play, but just beat the throw to first. Tulowitzki provided the other two runs with a two-run home run in the third.
Millwood allowed four runs in six innings, but was again burned by the home run. After allowing three runs in seven innings in his first start, all on solo home runs, Millwood’s four earned runs Monday were produced by a pair of two-run home runs. Rex Brothers and Matt Belisle combined to pitch the final three innings and Belisle picked up the win.
I have said it before, but I think Millwood, as a #5 starter and mentor to younger guys, is worth having around. Yes, he will give up around 30 HRs a year (especially here), but do you notice that he does not give up HRs with lots of walk in front of it. A solo HR hurts but it is also not a rally starter. I have always liked Kevin’s competitiveness. Given the choice between “he is what he is at this stage of his career” Millwood and the talent yet to be unlocked that is Mr. Hammel, I think this team is better served by going with a known next year (Hammel has to have trade value to a team with a good pitching coach who think he can finally fix him, the way Dac did with DLR…sometime guys need a different voice).
All in all….a scrappy win. The homer by Buck points to why so many of us like (or at least are happy with) Ianetta. The guy is nothing special but regular (13-20 hrs) power at the catcher position while calling a good game is worth a fortune in today’s game.
Nice to cheer a come from behind win. Go Rox! :(
Steve, I think this is their 3rd walk-off win. One was in extra innings against the White Sox (June 28) and the other was against the Braves (July 20).
Reading the summary of the July 20 win, there is quite a similarity. In that game Dex got a 2-out hit, Wiggy was walked, and CarGo singled.
There’s the walk-off! And a clutch double! What’s next? A win next Sunday?
Yup, third.
Trade Smith for his sake. TRACEY IS CRAZY. You don’t see other teams benching their starters when they have a “slump”, they let them play through it. This team is the worst about letting players build confidence. Lets look back over the past few years. The only players who don’t get pulled are Tulo, Cargo and Helton. How can anyone expect this team to ever be worth a crap with the way the players playing time is screwed with every other game. PICK A DAMN LINE UP AND STICK WITH IT, YOU MIGHT SEE A DIFFERENT TEAM!!!!
SO MAD ABOUT THIS I SCREWED HIS NAME UP…..TRACY IS CRAZY.
I feel your pain, Jas, but you also made me laugh. It reminded me of my wife’s comment last night when Drew threw out Helton’s quote about the reason for consecutive Sunday losses: My wife said, “No, he didn’t say ‘It’s crazy,’ he said, ‘It’s Tracy.’”
I am starting to think that Ianetta and Smith have winked at Tracy’s wife or something. Ianetta has always been on his list if he could play anybody else he always did. Granted both catchers(in the last two years) were batting much better for a time but when they went into a terrible slump they were not pulled. Some of our players have been sat/sent down after having a very nice game what gives? Even though we won last night I did not understand the starting line up or to be honest the pinch hitters. I also can not believe the poll in the Post to keep Tracy is it being run by Root Sports? Bless their home team hearts.
I’m sorry Doc Chris but I don’t agree with you on Millwood. I do agree that Hammel needs a new place, but Millwood has pitched 13 innings and given up 5 HR’s, and the last 2 were 2 run HR’s. He is way too prone to flyballs and HR’s.
JAS I agree with you. When Tracy first got here that is exactly what he did. No tinkering. Why he got away from that and into micro-managing is beyond any of us to explain, but I wish someone would.
Liz I can’t believe that so many voters want both Tracy and DOD back, and in second place is fire DOD but keep Tracy. 3rd place is fire both and in last place was fire Tracy (my vote)
Nice win, thank you very much Cargo and Jason G for some much needed clutch hits.
By far the best game I’ve been to this year. Three hours of aggravation followed by a few short moments of utter joy. Kinda similar to how I feel when I play golf. But anyway, the game up to that point was perfectly following script, Tulo hits a 2 run homer, then later when the game is on the line strikes out(don’t mean to pick on you Tulo, I know you had strikeout company). Dex nearly runs himself out between 1st and 2nd base. But then, unexpectedly, when it mattered most, Giambi blasts a 3 run tater tot.
now for some deep thoughts…
- what’s up with the water at the hand wash stations in the bathrooms? You have to wave your hands around like 5 of those sensor things before maybe one will turn on, it makes me feel invisible
- don’t call your wife at 1:30 am to pick you up in Boulder because you missed the last Bolt bus to Longmont, maybe sleeping on a park bench is a better alternative, just sayin’
Hahaha! Nice post Rocky!
LOL Rocky.
The damn electic faucets. Who thinks these things up? What is wrong with a handle?
I thought the washers at Coors were malfunctioning until I figured this out after a few years: Put your palm in front of the beam and wait three seconds and the water will start up. Swiping palms won’t work.
hahaah thanks for tht RMH hahaha if i coult i would vote your comment lol
The water faucets are probably designed that way to save water. They function magnificently in that role. Not so much in encouraging people to wash their hands.
RMH, I also figured out the 3-second rule. But even then half of them don’t come on.
Thanks RMH. That should save some future aggrevation. Dexter Fowler coulda won a home run title before I coulda figured that out.
they are also for those people that don’t like to touch the faucet to turn them off after we’ve washed our hands…more sanitary…plus, they usually don’t put the turn handles in – they put the push ones, and those are the worse!!!
Wayne, sorry for the slow response. I see your point about Millwood but I like the fact he competes. Yes he is a gopher ball machine and Coors is not conducive to such but this rotation is going to be so young next year that it would be nice to have a vet, a guy who has pitched with the great and who can still go out in the 5 spot and give you 6 innings each time and a chance to win each game. But your right, if they do keep him I suggest buying the seats about 5 rows back in the outfield and creating your own EBAY store for genuine Coors field homer balls. Maybe Millwood can start to sign them even :) But you know, just thought about it, Bert Blylevan was a gopher ball machine, especially late in his career and he helped the Twins win a WS and now has free admission to the HOF.