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 23, 2007
ROCKIES 7, PADRES 3
After taking the first two games, the Rockies looked to sweep the Padres and move within a game-and-a-half of the NL wild card spot. The Rockies would explode for four runs in the fourth inning, and starter Jeff Francis would only give up two runs in eight innings.
First baseman Todd Helton and right fielder Brad Hawpe would each pick up two hits, and left fielder Ryan Spilborghs would go three-for-five, dinging Padres starter Greg Maddux for four RBIs.
The key fourth inning started with Spilborghs tripling into right field, scoring Hawpe. Catcher Yorvit Torrealba would follow up with a single, scoring Spilborghs. Maddux would load up the bases before shortstop Troy Tulowitzki hit a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing Torrealba to score. Helton capped off the inning with another single to center field, bringing home center fielder Cory Sullivan for the fourth run of the inning. The Rockies would add two more runs and win the game 7-3.
The Rockies, now 84-72, left San Diego on an eight-game winning streak, and move on to Los Angeles, to play a Dodgers team they had swept just days before.