San Diego – The fans began gathering a little before 9 a.m. at Coors Field. Playoff tickets went on sale, and vice-president of business operations Greg Feasel, while declining to release numbers, said the turnout was pleasantly surprising.
The same could be said of the Rockies’ week, though pleasantly numbing might be a more apt description. Colorado hasn’t lost since Miguel Cabrera appeared to stop their heart with a grand slam eight days ago. The Rockies thumped the San Diego Padres 6-2 on Saturday, evolving from interesting diversion to legitimate fascination.
The Rockies shaved the Padres’ wild-card lead to 2 1/2 games with seven games left. The Philadelphia Phillies, once a shadowy figure, can no longer be ignored as a potential Colorado obstacle. They trail the Padres by just a half game and could ultimately could become the team the Rockies’ must leap in the standings.
Nothing seems implausible at this point with the team on a run that came equipped with historical footnotes. Saturday’s win was the Rockies’ 83rd, tying the most ever in franchise history. It was also their seventh straight, matching their best streak this season.
Forget the idea of Rockies as underdogs. They are lovable mutts. Touch their nose. See, it’s cold. Despite the disappointment of Matt Holliday’s left oblique injury that kept him out of the lineup and possibly will sideline him today, despite their own weighty self-expectations, the Rockies worked with confidence. They performed without ego.
“It does have that every game is do-or-die feeling. It has that playoff atmosphere,” said Jeff Francis, who starts today opposite of Greg Maddux as the Rockies go for their third road sweep this season. “There’s that sense of urgency that everyone likes. And everyone has bought in. You want to win more for that guy next to you who’s been fighting all year than you do yourself.”
The Rockies won Saturday because of a unlikely blend – the starter Mark Redman, who is with his fourth organization this season; the reliever Ryan Speier, who nearly destroyed his career following a shoulder injury while playing basketball; And a streaky right fielder Brad Hawpe, who is suddenly hitting left-handers with alarming regularity.
Manager Clint Hurdle rejects words like resilient and perseverance. To him his team is good, get it? There was no argument on Saturday.
Hawpe, who tied his career high with four hits, shoved Colorado ahead to stay with a third-inning RBI single off erstwhile Rockie Justin Hampson. Hawpe homered off left-hander Joe Thatcher Friday night to secure the 14-inning victory. Redman, working on three days rest, grinded through 4 1/3 innings, preying on the Padres’ impatience.
With bases loaded and one out in the fifth, the side-arming Speier walked into the blaze unfazed.
He struck out Mike Cameron, the Padre’s fifth whiff in nine at-bats in this series, complementing nicely his two-run fielding error in the eighth. Scott Hairston, pinch-hitting for Milton Bradley who can’t bat left-handed because of an oblique injury, popped up weakly to second base.
It’s that type of sequence that brought fans to Blake Street for tickets over breakfast. They believe in the mutts with mitts. Sounds corny, but this is a team that’s putting together an ending that’s pure Disney.
Staff Writer Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com.
