The first inning was still 70 minutes away, but Troy Tulowitzki and Ryan Spilborghs were in a heated discussion about strategy Monday.
Spilborghs was contemplating whether to trade up in their fantasy league football draft. Tulo already knew who he wanted. If a baseball draft was held today, he might very well the first shortstop taken. Tulowitzki provided another highlight reel to his remarkable recovery this season, hitting for the cycle in the Rockies’ 11-5 win over the Cubs.
Tulowitzki finished with a career-high five hits (in five at-bats) and seven RBIs.
History arrived in the seventh inning. Tulowitzki roped a fastball down the left-field line, sprinting out of the box. He never slowed up around second base as Alfonso Soriano fumbled with the ball. A good throw might have nailed Tulowitzki at third base, but he slid in safely as the word “Cycle” flashed on the scoreboard.
He received thunderous applause and tipped his cap as he returned to the field as the crowd performed the rhythmic “Tu-lo!” chant.
That Tulowitzki had a chance at the cycle came courtesy of bad luck. In the first inning, the 24-year-old launched a Tom Gorzelanny fastball onto the left-field concourse. Tulo bounced the ball into the grilled chicken stand.
In the second, however, he hit a ball even farther. It appeared to leave the stadium before bouncing on the concourse again. It was a moon shot that was ruled foul. For the first time in Coors Field history, the umpires reviewed the call on the TV behind home plate. After a 4-minute, 10-second delay, Bob Davidson returned to the field and signaled that the ball was foul by a foot.
So Tulo promptly singled. He doubled in the fourth before his triple, and singled again in the eighth, driving in two to make the score 11-1. Since Clint Hurdle was fired, Tulowitzki has 16 home runs.
After a wobbly start when he escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first inning, Jorge De La Rosa (10-8) regained his balance and worked 7 2/3 innings, allowing one run on a season-high 125 pitches.
