Carlos Gonzalez will forever be beloved by the Colorado Rockies and on Sunday, Gonzalez went a perfect 4-4 at the plate with two runs scored and two RBI including one monster no-doubter that went to the third deck in right field that led Jeff Huson to say, “we all have a special place in our hearts for Cargo”.

Gonzalez is a fan-favorite and one of the best clubhouse guys on the team, but he is once again proving that he can contribute in a big way for the Rockies at the plate — even if his power is starting to evade him. His career at the plate continues to reach new heights as he obliterates milestones that stand in his way just as he did on Sunday.

On Sunday, Gonzalez recorded his 1,300th hit over his 10+ year career and he did so while going 4-4 from the plate. For a Rockies’ offense that can be described as anemic, inconsistent, and as more of an apparition than anything tangible, the spark that Gonzalez has given the Rockies has been a monumental shift in the cosmos of the rocky mountains.

Gonzalez’s production has been a shot of adrenaline for a Rockies offense that continues to dissolve into nothing but home runs and far too many 1-2-3 innings. He is hitting .304 at the plate in the past two weeks with an on-base percentage of .360. Gonzalez is doing what very few of his teammates have been able to do — get on base, set the table, and create the opportunity for big innings.

For the Rockies offense to get back on track, they will need more consistent production from Gonzalez and that does not seem to be too much to ask for. He has been able to get the barrel on the ball and is showing that his timing is finally returning to his swing.

There is no better example of this than the vintage Gonzalez performance on Sunday in which all four of his hits were barreled-up and smoked. He pulled three inside pitches to right field including his mammoth homer and also was able to slap his third single of the game into left field as he took what the pitch gave him.

If ‘Cargo’ can continue to build on his performance from Sunday, the Rockies will be in much better shape. They need a significant spike in offensive production and Gonzalez has the means to deliver.