The line of team employees converged at home plate Sunday. There, Ryan Spilborghs, among other Rockies players, stood hugging Lori McGregor as a tribute to her late husband played on the Jumbo-Tron.
Talking about it four hours later remained difficult for Spilborghs, the emotions still raw.
“It was special for me personally to console her because before my mother (Essie) passed away (in February 2009), Keli was there for my family,” Spilborghs said. “He would just show up unannounced at the hospital to cheer her up. Half the time, I never even knew about it.”
That is who McGregor was, a kind, compassionate, deeply religious man. Sunday’s game, an 8-4 victory over the Florida Marlins, represented the legacy he left behind.
McGregor believed in the power of the human touch, of creating a bond through friendship and teamwork. When the Rockies’ players surrounded and hugged McGregor’s four children after they threw out four ceremonial first pitches, it illustrated his impact.
“I think that (scene) showed how close this organization is, and Keli was a huge reason for that,” said Troy Tulowitzki, who wrote the initials KM on his eye black and had the program from McGregor’s service taped to his locker.
“It was a tough day to play baseball, and we needed each other to get through it,” Tulowitzki said.
Before the game, a 90-minute service was held for McGregor. His children — who range from age 12 to a sophomore at CSU — daughters Taylor, Jordan and Landri and son Logan, bravely eulogized their dad, leaving many players in tears.
“I can’t imagine what they were going through,” first baseman Todd Helton said.
Logan, who told well-wishers he wanted to grow up to be just like his daddy, remained with manager Jim Tracy for the lineup card exchange at home plate.
“I am making sure he gets it back and knows that we would have finished in second place today without him,” Tracy said.
What unfolded was one of the most moving regular-season games in franchise history. Outfielder Seth Smith lifted the Rockies ahead 4-0 with a pair of home runs. The first shot in the second inning, a laser into the right-field seats, allowed the team to exhale.
“Today, I learned what a great father, husband and president Keli was. There were a lot of built-up emotions,” Smith said. “It was definitely exciting for me to give back a little bit after watching his three daughters and son today.”
Before exiting with a bruise on his left middle finger, one that he doesn’t think will force him to miss a start, Jorge De La Rosa protected the lead for five innings. He could throw only his changeup by the last inning, but he minimized damage.
“Everything we did today was to honor Keli and his family,” De La Rosa said.
That never resonated more than on the final scoreboard. For the third time since McGregor’s unexpected death, a familiar number figured in the outcome. McGregor wore No. 88 in football during his All-American career at Colorado State, and his children were adorned with Rockies jerseys with that number Sunday.
The Rockies scored eight runs in an inning last Tuesday, they finished their road trip 8-8 and on the day of his service there it was again in a Colorado win as if McGregor was looking over them.
“Don’t rule it out,” Tracy said. “I am telling you, don’t rule it out.”
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
Jason Hammel (0-1, 8.04 ERA) made strides in his last outing against the Nationals, keeping his left shoulder closed longer in his delivery while eliminating big mistakes. Hammel’s margin for error will be slim against Arizona’s Dan Haren (2-1, 5.19). Haren, who has allowed five home runs this season, uses a deliberate pause in his motion and a nasty split-fingered pitch to puzzle hitters. He had success against the Rockies last season by throwing more fastballs in changeup counts. Ryan Spilborghs, Haren’s former roommate, has 10 hits off him.
