In 2007, the Colorado Rockies finished the regular season by winning 14 of 15 games to leap from fourth place in the NL West into what would eventually become their first and only World Series appearance. Mile High Sports celebrates the anniversary of ‘Rocktober’ by recapping each game from each of those days ten years ago.
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October 1, 2007
ROCKIES 9, PADRES 8
Game 163 became a back-and-forth affair in which the winner would go to the playoffs and the loser would go home. The game took four extra innings to be decided on a play at home plate that is still considered controversial today.
Despite an early start for the Rockies’ offense — who put up four runs in the first three innings — the Padres took the lead with a five-run third inning. The Rockies clawed their way back into the game, scoring a run in the fifth and sixth to re-take a one-run lead.
In the eighth inning, set-up pitcher Brian Fuentes gave up a single and a double, allowing a score and blowing the save opportunity. The teams would go scoreless until the thirteenth inning, when Rockies pitcher Jorge Julio gave up a walk, followed by a home run to put the Padres up by two.
With three outs remaining in the Rockies season, the Padres called upon closer Trevor Hoffman to shut the game down. Hoffman struggled, giving up doubles to second baseman Kazuo Matsui and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, and a triple to left fielder Matt Holliday. With the score now tied, Hoffman walked Todd Helton to get to third baseman Jamey Carroll. Carroll hit a first pitch to deep right field, giving Holliday a chance to tag up. Holliday collided with Padres catcher Michael Barrett to tag the plate, and after a few seconds of hesitation, the umpire called Holliday safe.
It took the Rockies an extra game, but they had managed to secure the Wild Card and a playoff berth for the first time since 1995. In the National League Division Series, they would face the Philadelphia Phillies.
