On Tuesday afternoon, Rockies owner Dick Monfort stood behind the batting cage, surveyed the scene and smiled. Even for the man who writes the checks, this scene seemed unfathomable in May when Colorado was plunging in the standings.
Here the Rockies were welcoming September callups, worried about results, not development. It’s life in a playoff race.
“This is what you live for,” Monfort said.
On a night that featured four hit batters, two ejections, and myriad of missed opportunities, the Rockies kept their faint postseason pulse, rallying for a 6-5 white-knuckle victory over the San Francisco Giants.
With everybody ahead of them in the wild-card standings winning, Colorado could ill-afford a setback. The Rockies remain four games back and sit six games over .500 for the first time this season.
They required runs in the eighth and ninth to avoid the crippling defeat. In the ninth, Todd Helton and Garrett Atkins worked back-to walks setting up Brad Hawpe. Hawpe singled sharply to right field, scoring pinch-runner Jamey Carroll, setting off a moshpit celebration at first base.
Early on, the Rockies were feeling the heat because of a breeze. Garrett Atkins and Troy Tulowitzki, who hit his 19th home run, both struck out with runners on second and third and bases loaded in the second and third innings. It left them trailing 5-1, following Franklin Morales’ exit after just 44 pitches.
Colorado chipped away, knocking out starter Tim Lincecum. As the middle innings dragged on, hitters were plunked. The Rockies received the biggest break when Giants reliever Brian Wilson hit Yorvit Torrealba in the eighth. He was ejected along with manager Bruce Bochy. That led to Hennessey’s struggles. He was 14-for-14 in save opportunities before blowing the lead and ultimately the game.
Staff Writer Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com.
