Thursday, October 11, 2007 |
NLCS Game 1: Rockies 5, Diamondbacks 1
Top 2nd: After the Rocks go down 1-2-3 in their half of the first, the Snakes come back on a Stephen Drew single followed by a long Eric Byrnes double that gets stuck in the muddy warning track in left. The Rocks get back in the second by loading the bases against Brandon Webb, two on singles and one on a walk to Brad Hawpe. Troy Tulowitzki, batting seventh (where he spent about half time this year, most of the rest batting second), hit into a double play, driving in one, but that was it for the Rocks. Tied, 1-1.
Top 3rd: Willy Taveras knocks a one-out single, steals second, and gets home on Kaz Matsui's RBI single. 2-1 Rockies.
Matt Holliday follows up Matsui's single by reaching on a 50-foot swinging bunt, but then Todd Helton lines out to dead center. A wild pitch to Garret Atkins pushes runners to second and third, and Atkins walks to load the bases for the second time, this time with two out, to face Hawpe for the second time. Hawpe, hitting .337/.449/.699 with two out, comes through in a big way with an RBI single that scores two. 4-1 Rockies. Webb jams Tulo inside, and the Rockies' shortstop bounces harmlessly to his counterpart to end the frame.
Bottom 4th: Both pitchers have efficient fourth innings, with Webb retiring the side in order and Francis getting a double play ball to end the frame facing the minimum. Still 4-1 Rockies.
Bottom 5th: After the Rocks go down in order for the second straight inning in the top of the frame, Francis retires the first two batters to face pitcher Webb — who promptly singles to right. Francis loses Chris Young on a six-pitch walk to bring the tying run to the plate in the person of Drew. After getting to 1-2 on Drew, Francis goes to a full count and then after a couple fouls, gets him to strike out on pitch 73.
Bottom 6th: Both pitchers exchange another set of zero frames, and each gave up a harmless single. Webb's half of the frame ended on a pickoff of Hawpe, while Francis erased his leadoff baserunner, Eric Byrnes, on a 6-4-3 GIDP. There is this difference: Webb has thrown almost 20 pitches more than Francis (98 vs. 81).
Top 7th: The Snakes call in the inconsistent Juan Cruz, and Torrealba walks to lead off the inning. Francis comes up, and after a brief squabble whether he actually attempted to bunt on a 0-1 pitch (he did), Cruz gives up a wild pitch that sends Torrealba to second anyway — and then Francis bunts him to third on a 2-2 count.
Willy Taveras goes 1-2 against Cruz, and finally strikes out swinging on a full count slider dropping outside the zone. But Matsui reaches with a bit of luck: Conor Jackson commits an error at first, allowing Torrealba to score. On the first pitch to Holliday, Matsui steals second, and Cruz throws a pitch that is ruled a passed ball, allowing Holliday to walk and Matsui to reach third. That chases Cruz, who exits the game with two out and both baserunners his responsibility. 5-1 Rockies.
Doug Slaten enters the game and retires Todd Helton on a popup after only two pitches to end the frame.
Bottom 7th: Francis immediately gets into trouble by surrendering a double to leadoff man Chris Snider and hits Justin Upton on the first pitch to put men on first and second with nobody out. But then Ojeda bounces into a fielder's choice that effectively becomes a double play because of an interference call against Justin Upton. (Upton tried to take out Matsui on the basepaths while advancing to second.) Not only is Upton out, but Snyder has to return to second base.
Diamondbacks fans start throwing garbage on the field in left in protest — so much, that the Rockies leave the field.
Bottom 9th, a few hours later: ... aaaand that's all, folks, making it 18 of 19, and the first time two NL West teams have met in the NLCS. Whee!
Labels: diamondbacks, postseason, recaps, rockies
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