Far away from the spray of champagne and the clubhouse chaos, Aaron Cook sat in the Rockies’ dugout having an impromptu family portrait taken by a friend, his youngest son, Colton, perched on his shoulder.
“This is really special, it’s hard to describe,” Cook said. “It means so much to get this chance again. A lot of players never get to experience this even once.”
The right-hander, starting for just the second time in the past six weeks because of a strained right shoulder, pitched eight nearly flawless innings against the Brewers on Thursday, steering the Rockies into the postseason for the second time in three years.
Cook yielded just four hits in his 85 pitches, his trusty sinker turning Brewers’ bats to kindling and put himself into the postseason rotation.
“It was absolutely more than anyone could have hoped for, or dreamed of,” pitching coach Bob Apodaca said. “It was the old Aaron Cook dominating the strike zone with one pitch. It was only going to be a health issue with him. But he has proven to us and all Denver that he’s ready for the postseason.”
Added first baseman Todd Helton: “He was in absolute command out there. We love playing behind Cookie.”
The Rockies will soon get another chance. Manager Jim Tracy made it clear afterward that Cook will be part of Colorado’s postseason rotation.
“I would say after what he did today, the educated guess is that Cookie will be out there for us,” a champagne-soaked Tracy said with a wink. “He did an amazing job today.”
A return to the postseason is especially meaningful to Cook, the Rockies second-round draft choice in 1997. Next to Helton, he’s the longest-tenured Rockies player.
As the original Rocktober unfolded in 2007, Cook was sidelined by an oblique injury so painful he could barely sit up in bed. But he kept working his way back and found himself on the mound to start Game 4 of the World Series. He threw six innings and allowed three runs.
“It hasn’t been as crazy a ride coming down the stretch this time, but it’s been just as fun,” Cook said. “I feel very fortunate to be part of this, and I think I can help us.”
Against Milwaukee, Cook induced 14 groundball outs.
Cook, 11-6 with a 4.16 ERA, knows exactly what he will attempt to do in the postseason.
“I will attack the zone and let my teammates do the work behind me,” he said. “Guys know I am not overpowering; I won’t try to trick anybody, I’m not going to try anything new or different. I’ll just do what I do, and if I do it well, it’s usually enough.”
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
