Reds vs. Rockies
Today there was a double header The first game was the regularly scheduled Sunday afternoon game and the second was a make up from Saturday which was Postponed till a Sunday night. The reason was a water main break on Blake Street that provided the stadium with water on Saturday afternoon.
This being a Sunday it was an autograph Sunday today the signers were Tommy Kahnle , Brooks Brown, Jhoulys Chacin and Tyler Matzek. I was able to get Brooks on my 2014 Team project and Tyler Matzek on a 2012 California/Carolina League All Start game mini bat. That he and Christian Bergman both played in that game. I did get Christian on it earlier in the year. When the autographs were over it was time for the festivities to start for Todd Helton's retirement ceremony. First the guest that were speaking were introduced Brad Hawpe and Matt Belilse. Drew Goodman from Root Sports MC'd the ceremony. Then Todd and his family were introduced on the field were his wife Kristy, their 2 daughters and I believe Kristy's Parents and brother.
The first speaker was Brad Hawpe.
He spoke about playing with Todd and about his first big league spring training! Hawpe had always played 1st. base, but with Todd as the starting first baseman for years he had to change positions and how Todd in his dry humor way basically told him that! Over the years they became good friends which is why he was one of the speakers.
Todd and his youngest daughter Gentry Grace look on as the second speaker Matt Belilse speaks.
He spoke about how Todd helped him as a pitcher.
After Brad and Matt spoke it was tome for his older daughter Tierney Faith to speak she stole the show when she mentioned about dad being home a lot lately and if we would like him back!
I am keeping this brief because I know many have seen the speeches on T.V. or online.
The Montfort's then presented Todd with a plaque of the 17, a replica of the one that is now hanging in the stadium.
They than unveiled the covered #17 that will be along with the Kelly McGreggor KSM and Jackie Robinson 42 . They are all above the visitors bullpen on the second level.
Todd than threw out the first pitch to former teammate Brad Hawpe.
Here they are after the pitch.
Todd gives a wave to the crowd.
Here he is before the National Anthem with the first pitch ball with the special #17 logo on it and with his daughter by his side.
After about the 1/2 hour ceremony it was time for the first game. I thought every involved did a great job with stories and there speaking about Todd. I thought him being presented a replica #17 from the Monforts was very cool. I did notice something that I thought was a little suspicious and that was our GM was not involved or on the field for this event. I just find it interesting that a teams GM would be MIA on such an important day in a teams history. Either he is already not involved or he doesn't have a set of balls. I also find it odd that either Dick or Charlie Monfort did not speak either. I have never seen one of these and not sure if the owner would normally speak, so I will just leave it at that. Also somebody also mentioned that the Commissioner of baseball also was not at Coors and he usually does attend such events. Over all it was really great to be at Coors this day and have to thank the people who helped me with the location I was able to photograph from.
Now onto this interesting and action packed game!
Jordan Lyles was the starting pitcher for the Rockies. He sat the Reds down in order and threw 11 pitches in the inning. All 3 outs were ground outs and he kept the ball low in the strike zone.
Mat Latos was the starter for the Reds. He struck out Charlie Blackmon to start the inning. Drew Stubbs got things going with a double after that.
Stubbs' double was followed with a Corey Dickerson double that scored Stubbs and gave the Rockies a 1-0 lead.
Dickerson's double bounced around in the left field corner. Michael Cuddyer would come up next and grounded out for the second out of the inning.
Since the beginning of the game there was a slight rain but it just started to downpour during Cuddy's at bat and there was thunder in the distance. They pulled the tarp with 2 outs and Dickerson on second. The delay lasted 21 minutes.
After the delay Arenado came to bat and scored a second run for the Rockies on a single that scored Dickerson and give the Rockies a 2-0 lead.
Lyles pitched well in the second and only had 1 base runner and that was a walk to Brayan Pena, he did record his first strike out of the game in the inning.
Blackmon came up in the 2nd inning with 2 outs and hit a solo home run and the Rockies had a 3-0 lead.
In the top of the 5th inning I was able to move to a better vantage point for photos and Lyles did allow his first hit of the game in the 4th that was a 2 run home run by Jay Bruce the second run was lead off batter Cozart who was hit with a pitch. The Rockies kept the lead 3-2.
Chris Heisey lead off the 5th inning by walking and Billy Hamilton came up with 1 out and hit a double advancing Heisey to third.
Heisey and Hamilton both scored on a Zach Cozart single. This gave the Reds a 4-3 lead.
Franklin Morales came in and pitched the 6th inning. The Reds immediately got to him and started off the inning with a Kris Negron solo home run, followed by a Skip Schumaker single and a Heisey double scored Negron and extended the Reds lead 6-3. Lyles pitched 5 innings giving up 5 runs on 5 hits walking 2 striking out 4.
Franklin Morales put down a bunt with Charlie Culberson on first. Culberson was forced out at second but Morales was safe at 1st.
The bottom of the 7th Dickerson lead off the inning with a home run into the fountain in center field. To cut the Reds lead down to 6-4.
Sam LeCure came into pitch for the Reds in the 6th and pitched into the 7th inning. After the Dickerson homer a single by Michael Cuddyer and Nolan Arenado, Jumbo Diaz came in to pitch for Reds.
With bases loaded Josh Rutledge came up an hit a sac fly to center that scored Cuddy from 3rd.
The run brought the Rockies within 1 run of the Reds still lead 6-5.
Juan Nicasio kept the Rockies in the game by holding the Reds off base in the 8th. He faced 3 batters and got out of the inning he did pitch deep in counts with 2 of the 3 batters throwing 7 pitches to Schumaker and 8 to pinch hitter jack Hannahan 18 in total in the inning. The only batter he didn't throw many pitches to was heisey who grounded out on the 3rd pitch of a 1-1 count.
Jonathan Broxton pitched the 8th for the Reds giving up 1 single to Drew Stubbs and walked Dickerson. He did get out of the inning with a double play.
Rex Brothers pitched the 9th for the Rockies and The Reds immediately got on him, Hamilton started the inning with a double. Cozart did get out but the next 3 batters got on base either by hitting a single or being walked. One of those was a single by Bruce who scored Hamilton and extended the Reds lead to 7-5.
Hamilton sliding into second after his 9th inning hit. The Reds did score a 8th run and Brothers did get out of the inning after facing 8 batters and throwing 29 pitches in the inning.
Reds 100+ MPH closer Aroldis Chapman came into the game in the 9th. A closer like this is usually lights out, Not this game he walked 4 consecutive batters which gave the Rockies a run and the Reds now lead 9-6.
J. Hoover came in and pitched with base's loaded and no outs he got the next 2 Rockies batters out and a run did score on a sac fly by Wilin Rosario. drew Stubbs came up with 2 out, 2 men on base and a Reds 2 run lead.
Stubbs hit a home run to left center field scoring the 3 runs the Rockies needed to win the game and the celebration started at home plate!
After a very brief celebration he did his post game interview..
… and got the bucket!!!!
The Rockies won this game 10-9.
We then had to immediately leave the stadium so they could clean the stadium and do some field maintenance before the second game.
They basically had a half hour between games an had to clear the stadium and then get ready for the second game. The first game ended at about 6:30 and the gates for game 2 opened at 6:50 with a scheduled first pitch at 7:10.
by the time we grabbed some food and re-entered the stadium at 7:00 they were already doing the National Anthem for the second game. I headed down to where I normally sit for the first pitch and we were ready for the next 9 innings.
Yohan Flande started for the Rockies. He did not start as well as Lyles in the first game. He Gave up a double to Hamilton to start the game. Hamilton would scored when Jay Bruce hit into a fielders choice getting Ramon Santiago out at second. The Reds took a 1-0 lead in the first.
In the Bottom of the First Cuddy tried to get a 2 out rally going hitting a triple. He would remain on base when Nolan Arenado struck out.
Both Flande and Axelrod continued to pitch well giving up minimal hits and know runs till the bottom of the 5th. (When our at the bottom of your 5th)!
Brandon Barnes hit a lead off solo homer to get the Rockies on the board and tie the game at 1.
Walt Weiss removed Fande in the 6th inning after giving up a 2 run home run to the Reds Ryan Ludwick. Kris Negron hit a single and than scored on a Pena double. The Reds got a total of 3 runs in the inning and took a 4-1 lead.
When Flande was removed from the game Brookes Brown came in and pitched to the next 2 batters getting both batters out.
Brown remained in the game in the 7th and Hamilton got his 3rd hit of the game with 1 out. He than stole second base and the ball was thrown short to Rutledge who missed the ball on the bounce and it ended up in center field, Hamilton would reach third on the error. He would score and the Reds had a 5-2 lead.
The Rockies got thing going in the 7th Blackmon started the inning with a walk when he pinch hit in the pitchers spot.
Rutledge hit a single and Dickerson followed up with a single scouring Blackmon for the Rockies first run of the inning.
After the run the Reds still had a 5-3 lead.
Cuddyer hit a single in the 8th he now has a triple, home run and a single in this game.
The Rockies picked up 2 more runs on a Arenado hit that got Dickerson out at third but scored Rutledge, after a bad throw by the Reds 3rd baseman Santiago that scored Cuddy and Arenado ended up on third and the Rockies tied the game at 5.
Dickerson watches the ball after being out at third and coaches Cuddy who was coming down the line.
Cuddy sliding into home to tie the game!
Adam Ottavino came in in the 8th inning and shut down the Reds batters in the inning striking out 2 and Getting Pena to ground out for the third out. He pitched better in this inning then I have seen him pitch in a while. He got out of the inning with 9 pitches, pitching the most 4 pitches to Negron who struck out.
for the second game they invited back the rally guy from game 1 and he moved down to the lower level for the 8th inning. He was dancing in the upper deck during the first game 9th inning when the Rockies scored the 5 runs to come back and win that game. So by popular demand he was invited back by the Rockies for game 2!
With 2 outs and Brandon Barnes, Charlie Culberson and Josh Rutledge on base Dickerson hit a double. scoring Barnes and Culberson to give the Rockies a 7-5 lead.
Michael Cuddyer came to the plate and I noticed something on my score card and then confirmed it on the board. Cuddy only needed a double to complete the cycle. with a 1-1 count he hit a Manny Parra slider to left field.
He made the turn at 1st as the ball was still in the outfield.
he got the double and completed the cycle, this was his second of his career and he is only the 4th in MLB history to do it in both the American and National league.
Cuddy would slid into home once again for the Rockies 10th run of the game on a Drew Stubbs single. The Rockies had a 10-5 lead.
LaTroy Hawkins came into pitch the 9th and sat the Reds down in order to end the game and give the Rockies the sweep of the double header and 3 or the 4 games this weekend series.
The Rockies and Cuddy celebrate their second win of the day. This is more wins in one day they have gotten in some weeks lately. cuddy went 4 for 5 this game scoring 3 RBI's and scoring 3 times. This was a great comeback day for him since this was the first day he played at Coors in almost 2 months. He went 5 for 10 on the day. He was also the 5th Rockies player to hit for the cycle.
it was time for the post season interview and the second bucket dump of the day!
He was warned to duck by the guys in the booth and Brandon Barnes got him pretty good!
These were 2 great games by the Rockies, it shows they do have potential to make things happen and it reminded me of the games they played early this season. The Bull Pen kept them in both games, they got pretty good starts from the starters and the bats where there when needed. A lot of guys stepped up this game. I wish they were able to do this for the last few months. These games would matter a lot more then a double header sweep or a series win.
It was an amazing day of baseball at Coors I am glad I was there for this day and to witness history twice this day, once with the retirement of the # 17 and then Cuddy hitting for the cycle. can not forget the 2 very dramatic games and wins in both.
So that is it for this one very long day at the ballpark.
Written by mlblogsroxaddict Posted in Uncategorized	Tagged with Brad Hawpe., Brookes Brown, Colorado Rockies, Coors Field, Cycle, Jhoulys Chacin, Matt Belisle, Michael Cuddyer, Retired #17, Split Double-Header, Todd Helton, Tyler Matzek