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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September 18, 2007

GAME ONE: Rockies 3, Dodgers 1

After the previous day’s game was rained out, the Rockies’ Jeff Francis fanned 10 Dodgers in only 6-2/3 innings while allowing only a single run, and relievers LaTroy Hawkins, Brian Fuentes and Manny Corpas ensured that the Dodgers wouldn’t score again. In run-happy Coors Field, that was enough for Colorado to take the first game of a doubleheader.

The Rockies’ offense wasn’t terrific — only leadoff hitter Cory Sullivan had more than a single hit — but Matt Holliday singled Sullivan in during the fourth inning, and Todd Helton singled Sullivan in during the sixth. Pinch-hitter Joe Koshansky knocked in outfielder Brad Hawpe for the final Rockies tally.

Francis, who earned the win, moved his record to 16-8, and the Rockies drew closer to the Dodgers in the NL West standings. They’d tie the Dodgers later that day.

GAME TWO: Rockies 9, Dodgers 8

In contrast to the afternoon’s low-scoring affair, the nightcap saw 17 runs put on the scoreboard. Fortunately for the Rockies, they finished with one more as outfielders Matt Holliday and Ryan Spilborghs batted three of them in apiece.

The Rockies got the best of veteran hurler David Wells, who surrendered eight hits and five earned runs in five innings while striking out only one. But the Rockies didn’t fare much better at first; starter Mark Redman gave up seven hits and four runs before leaving after five innings, and reliever Matt Herges had a nightmare performance, coughing up three earned runs without logging a single out.

As the Rockies came up to bat in the bottom of the eight inning, they trailed, 8-5, and things looked bleak. Spilborghs gave the home team some hope after he took Dodgers reliever Jonathan Broxton deep; a two-run shot that drew the Rockies within a single run.

After Rockies reliever Ryan Speier pitched a clean ninth, the stage was set for some LoDo drama, and Todd Helton did not disappoint. Dodgers closer Takashi Saito started the inning with an Omar Quintanilla groundout and a Troy Tulowitzki whiff, and the save looked in sight Los Angeles. Matt Holliday kept the Rockies alive with a two-out single, and Helton came up clutch with his 15th home run of the season — and putting the Rockies in the win column once more.

‘Rocktober’ was replete with magical moments, but Helton’s unlikely, game-winning homer may have been the first. It wouldn’t be the last.