Rolling Rockies slam Phillies for 2nd straight day
05.10.2007 14:02
Sport and Travel
- Source: USA Today
PHILADELPHIA — The Colorado Rockies' run of near perfection has them a win away from playing for the franchise's first National League pennant.
The Rockies pounded the Philadelphia Phillies 10-5 at Citizens Bank Park on Thursday, giving them 16 wins in their last 17 games and a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five Division Series. They have eight consecutive road wins. Rookie Ubaldo Jimenez will pitch Game 3 Saturday for the Rockies against Jamie Moyer as they go for a sweep at Coors Field. Just one team — the 2001 New York Yankees, against the Oakland Athletics — has overcome a 2-0 deficit in a Division Series after losing the first two games at home. "It's been challenging because we didn't start well, and we were nine games under .500 midway," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "But there's never been any doubt within the clubhouse walls about what these guys wanted to get done. They are very, very excited about being here, but by no means is that it. They've got plans. They want to keep playing." On Sept. 17, the Rockies had a day off at home after losing two or three to the Florida Marlins. They were fourth in the NL West and fourth in the wild-card race, 3 1/2 games behind the second-place Phillies. "We always believed in ourselves, but it would have been far-fetched to think that we could win like this," Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said. "I don't want anyone to know about us. We want to fly under the radar and sneak up on everybody." Outfielder Matt Holliday said the Rockies never thought about their predicament: "I don't think we actually sat there and made ourselves the old back-against-the-wall speech. I don't ever remember thinking we have to win every game for the rest of the season. But at that point, we had to start winning games to get to where we had set our goals." The Rockies are in just their second postseason — they lost to the Atlanta Braves in 1995 — but they are performing like October baseball is nothing new. Tulowitzki, a top candidate for NL Rookie of the Year, and Holliday, a leading candidate for NL MVP, hit home runs on consecutive pitches to give the Rockies a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Kaz Matsui, the Rockies' leadoff batter, had a grand slam and five RBI while coming within a single of hitting for the cycle. Matsui's home run, against Kyle Lohse, a starter-turned-reliever, was a line drive that landed in the right-field seats. Tulowitzki's home run landed in the flower bed, barely clearing the left-field fence, but there was no doubt about Holliday's home run as it sailed out of the ballpark. Holliday has two home runs in the Division Series and six in six games in Philadelphia. Rockies starter Franklin Morales lasted three innings, but the five relievers, including starter Josh Fogg, held the Phillies. The Rockies' bullpen has allowed one earned run in nine innings. The Phillies, who won the NL East title on the final day after trailing the New York Mets by seven games with 17 left to play, have gone flat. They led the NL in run production, but have seven runs and a .203 average in the first two games. Chase Utley has struck out five times. Is there anything left? Phillies manager Charlie Manuel says his team has escaped this situation before. "We've got another one to play, and if we win, we go on," Manuel said. "I expect us to come out Saturday and play just like always." The Rockies are in a different situation. For the first time in more than two weeks, they can go to the ballpark and not feel they're in a must-win situation. "It's a good point to be at," Tulowitzki said. "But we all know it's not over. Still, I'd love to get it over with on Saturday." Notes: Rollins hit the first leadoff homer in the Phillies' postseason history. ... The Phillies haven't won a postseason game since Curt Schilling shut out Toronto in Game 5 of the 1993 World Series. That series ended with Joe Carter's homer clinching the championship for the Blue Jays. ... Colorado's bullpen has allowed one earned run in nine innings. *** Contributing: The Associated Press
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