“Arigato.”
That’s Japanese for “thank you.” And it’s what the Rockies owe second baseman Kazuo Matsui after he lifted them to a crazy 10-9, 10-inning win over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday afternoon at Coors Field.
Matsui led off the bottom of the 10th with a single, advanced to second when reliever Victor Santos threw away the ball trying to pick Matsui off first, then scored on Garrett Atkins’ single to left.
Atkins, mired in a deep slump coming into the game, went 3-for-5, including a solo leadoff homer in the second.
The 10th inning was just the final chapter of Matsui’s heroics. He went 3-for-6 and hit a bases-loaded, three-run double in the eighth, fueling a four-run rally that put the Rockies ahead 9-8. The Rockies appeared to win the game when Brad Hawpe drove in Matsui with a single up the middle.
In the ninth, however, closer Brian Fuentes literally tossed away a chance to close out a Rockies’ comeback win. He gave up a leadoff double to Brandon Phillips, but then had Phillips dead to rights with a sweet pickoff move. The only problem: Fuentes double-clutched and threw the ball into center field. Phillips advanced to third and scored on Jeff Conine’s single, sending the game into extra innings.
Sunday marked the 13th time this season the Rockies entered the final game of a series with a chance to win it. They failed in their previous 10 attempts, but came through on Sunday. In taking two of three from the Reds, the Rockies won their first home series since the first one of the season against Arizona.
The Rockies, 4-3 on the current 10-game homestand, have Monday off before opening a three-game set with Houston on Tuesday.
Staff Writer Patrick Saunders can be reached at 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com.
