It was growing late Wednesday night, jackets were zipped, fans were trying to remember where they parked.
While not aesthetically pleasing, there was a sense of inevitability. The Rockies were going to win, even if it was more Play-Doh than Picasso. So even after three errors, even after Aaron Cook’s sinker abandoned him, even after a bullpen hiccup, the Rockies found themselves bouncing around in a mosh pit at home plate.
What it lacked in appeal, it made up for with drama. Chris Iannetta delivered a walkoff home run, the final dagger in the Rockies’ 6-5, 10-inning victory over the New York Mets at Coors Field.
“Yeah, we knew it was gone. Did you see how hard he hit it?” asked outfielder Ryan Spilborghs, who smashed a three-run home run in the third inning. “We are all happy for Chris because we know how hard he works.”
Work is an apt description of the evening. This win, the Rockies’ fourth in five games, was a grind. This win, which leaves them in position to sweep the Mets today, will be referenced if the National League West is tighter than Saran Wrap in September. The Rockies deserved to lose, but they capitalized on huge hits and a schedule that decreed they play the struggling Mets.
“The biggest thing is that we got the win. That’s what matters,” said Iannetta, who went 3-for-5 after entering the game with one hit. “I wasn’t going to make too much of my first 12 at-bats. That’s a pretty small sample size to be worrying about.”
Slow starts are always magnified. The Mets are a prime example. They are operating with a sense of urgency, with at least one rotation spot already hanging in the balance. That’s what happens when a team hasn’t led at the completion of an inning since last Friday.
“We saw a lot of good things tonight,” Mets manager Jerry Manuel said. “We have to keep positive.”
New York appeared poised for more than a moral victory after scoring a run off reliever Rafael Betancourt in the eighth, the first he’s allowed, and spoiling Franklin Morales’ save attempt in the ninth. Gary Matthews reached on an infield single that Troy Tulowitzki couldn’t handle, stole second and raced to third when Iannetta bounced a throw into center field. He scored on Luis Castillo’s sacrifice fly.
A few years ago, such a mistake might have unnerved Iannetta. Instead, he guided the pitching staff through danger in the 10th — left-hander Randy Flores retired Alex Cora to end a viable threat — setting up his dramatic at-bat.
He led off against Mets heralded prospect Jenrry Mejia, who possesses a 97-mph fastball and 94-mph slider. Iannetta had never faced him, so he looked for a pitch in a certain zone. Hours of batting practice paid off with a perfect swing. Iannetta smoked a fastball into the left-field seats, raising his bat to the sky in a triumphant gesture.
“There’s no sag in our guys,” Flores said. “No matter what happens, we have confidence we can find a way to win.”
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
Looking ahead
TODAY: Mets at Rockies, 1:10 p.m., FSN, KOA 850 AM
Not even getting his car towed could spoil Jorge De La Rosa’s season debut. De La Rosa (1-0, 0.00) fanned the Padres nine times on his changeup. He threw first-pitch strikes to 75 percent of the batters. De La Rosa is 17-3 since June 3, tops in baseball. Mike Pelfrey (1-0, 3.00) had issues on the road last season, posting a 6.72 ERA in 80 1/3 innings. Todd Helton is 6-for-7 against the right-hander, with five RBIs. Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
Upcoming pitching matchups
Friday: Rockies’ Jason Hammel (0-0, 5.14) vs. Braves’ Derek Lowe (2-0, 4.50), 5:35 p.m., FSN, KOA 850 AM
Saturday: Rockies’ Ubaldo Jimenez (2-0, 2.25) vs. Braves’ Kenshin Kawakami (0-1, 3.00), 5:10 p.m., FSN, KOA 850 AM
Sunday: Rockies’ Greg Smith (1-1, 5.25) vs. Braves’ Jair Jurrjens (0-1, 8.64), 11:35 a.m., FSN, KOA 850 AM
Monday: Rockies’ Aaron Cook (0-1, 6.75) vs. Nationals’ Craig Stammen (0-0, 7.20), 5:05 p.m., FSN, KOA 850 AM
