They flooded Coors Field, lining up Wednesday three hours before the first pitch, even if it meant standing under a searing sun and breathing port-a-potty stench.
It was a rush to the seats, but an orderly rush. Day 2 of the Red Sox reunion tour brought more understanding and appreciation for the experience. This wasn’t a carnival sideshow. It was an event, one super-sized with Ubaldo Jimenez pitching for the Rockies.
What was supposed to be Jimenez’s latest tap out became a Boston tee-off party before morphing into a magical comeback on huge home runs from Ian Stewart and Jason Giambi, who hit a walkoff shot for the winning runs.
Got all that?
Despite Jimenez’s worst outing of the season, understandable given his recent illness, the Rockies rallied for an 8-6 victory.
All season, the Rockies have witnessed Jimenez make history. Wednesday, they made a little of their own. They had never won a game this season when trailing after seven innings. They were 0-23.
Make that 1-23. And this victory will long be remembered if the Rockies play deep into October.
Down 6-5 against Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon, Stewart crushed his first home run at Coors Field this season, a moon shot into the second deck. Clint Barmes reached on a bloop single and was moved to second on Ryan Spilborghs’ sacrifice bunt.
That led manager Jim Tracy to pull back Jonathan Herrera and insert the pinch-hitting Giambi, a role in which he excelled last season. Giambi smoked a 90 mph fastball into the right-field seats, sending the crowd into delirium.
The beauty of baseball is that it affords the opportunity to see something unique every game. But Rockies fans never thought they would witness Jimenez squander a four-run lead and exit in the sixth inning.
After battling a stomach virus leading up to the game, the Rockies ace was tagged for six runs in 5 2/3 innings, sabotaged by journeymen outfielders Daniel Nava (three RBIs) and Darnell McDonald (two-run homer). Jimenez had permitted just 13 runs during his previous 101 1/3 innings. His ERA for the season jumped to 1.60.
All those numbers were forgotten as Giambi walked back to the dugout to a standing ovation.
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
