NEW YORK — The din was continuous, depressing. It was punctuated by clacking and random howls of encouragement. Mets fans have waited 10 seasons to return to the World Series. “Wait ’til next year” sounds more like a warning than optimism.
So, they take excitement where they can get it, and when Mets reliever Manny Acosta pumped two quick strikes to Melvin Mora in the eighth inning, they rose to their feet.
The collective groan that followed sounded like a jet roaring overhead towards LaGuardia.
With one swing, Mora broke 30,000 hearts and placed a defibrillator on the Rockies, his grand slam shoving Colorado to an unlikely 6-2 victory Wednesday night at Citi Field.
“I don’t know if that was a must-win,” said first baseman Todd Helton, whose two-out single started the rally. “But Melvin’s hit is as big as it gets.”
When Mora, a key member of that 2000 Mets World Series team, stepped into the box, the Rockies trailed 2-1. The deficit felt much larger, since Colorado had won just three road games against the Mets since 2002.
But there were hints that something significant was transpiring. Carlos Gonzalez walked after Helton, which he rarely does, even when teams try to pitch around him.
“But I knew they were going to throw me groundballs, so there was no way I was swinging,” Gonzalez said.
After Acosta fired a pitch to the backstop, the Mets intentionally walked Troy Tulowitzki, who is 21-for-55 since returning from the disabled list. Mora was surprised, if only because Mets bench coach Dave Jauss knows him. They were together with the Orioles last season and Jauss, Mora said, is aware of how much he likes to hit in the clutch.
“I was just trying to put the ball into right field past (Luis) Castillo,” said Mora, who is 4-for-6 with 14 RBIs with bases loaded this season. “I wasn’t sure if I hit it out.”
Helton wasn’t either. He was back in the clubhouse icing down after being removed for a pinch runner when he heard the commotion.
“I knew something really good happened,” Helton said.
Mora prevented a second consecutive strong pitching outing from being spoiled. One night after a sacrifice fly doomed Ubaldo Jimenez, Jeff Francis was on the hook for a loss after allowing a two-run, first-inning home run to Angel Pagan. That was the only damage against him in six innings.
“To give up two runs with no outs, it’s not a good feeling,” said Francis, removed after 84 pitches after admitting he was fatigued. “I became more unpredictable after that.”
Grim became grins because of Mora, an affable leader in the clubhouse, particularly among Latin players.
The 38-year-old Mora crushed a slider, the ball piercing through the humidity and over the wall.
The Rockies’ players hanging over the dugout rose in unison, several pumping their fists. For a team that had been shut out in three of its last four games in New York and had lost 13 of its previous 17 road games, this hit represented a potential tipping point.
The Rockies were 1-31 when trailing on the road after seven innings. As Mora walked through the clubhouse with his home run ball, there was tangible evidence that the playoffs were still possible.
“I think it’s fair to say,” said manager Jim Tracy, “that was as big a swing as we’ve had all season.”
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
He’s got the touch
Melvin Mora has a knack for coming up big with bases loaded. He leads the Rockies with 14 RBIs in those situations:
(Player, At-bats, RBI)
Melvin Mora 6 14
Ian Stewart 17 9
Troy Tulowitzki 6 8
Carlos Gonzalez 8 7
Looking ahead
TODAY: Rockies at Mets, 10:10 a.m.
Jason Hammel (8-6, 4.38 ERA) made one bad pitch last weekend, a hanging changeup to Pedro Alvarez that was deposited into the right-field seats. It nearly cost him a win. Hammel has a difficult matchup opposite Johan Santana. He endured his worst start of last season against Santana and the Mets, lasting just four outs in a 7-0 loss. The Rockies can’t afford another meltdown. Santana (9-6, 3.06) is coming off a scoreless outing against the Phillies. He is 14-6 with a 2.87 ERA in 25 career starts at Citi Field. He will rely on a sneaky fastball and devastating changeup. Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
Upcoming pitching matchups
Friday: Brewers’ Yovani Gallardo (11-5, 2.86) at Rockies’ Jorge De La Rosa (4-3, 5.01), 7:10 p.m., FSN
Saturday: Brewers’ Chris Narveson (9-7, 5.62) at Rockies’ Esmil Rogers (2-2, 4.79), 6:10 p.m., FSN
Sunday: Brewers’ Manny Parra (3-9, 5.46) at Rockies’ Ubaldo Jimenez (17-3, 2.55), 1:10 p.m., FSN
Monday: Off.
