Matt Holliday stepped up the to plate a total of seven times in a game against the Mets Friday night. He failed to reach base safely until his sixth at bat which came in the ninth inning. His first hit of the night could not have come at a better time. He jacked a first pitch fastball from closer Billy Wagner over the centerfield fence to tie the game.
As if the game tying homer was not enough, in his seventh at bat, Holliday decided to one up his previous heroics. He lined a single into right field in the bottom of the 13th to drive in Jonathon Herrera from second, sending the Coors Field fans into frenzy. In as season that has been almost all down times, a big extra inning victory like this 6-5 win is just what the doctor ordered.
Holliday has been the mark of consistency for the Rockies thus far, hitting .322 with seven homers. The team however, not so much in the area of consistency. Widely considered a contender for the NL West crown before the season, the Padres and Rockies have been fighting each other to stay out of the cellar.
The Mets are just the team the Rockies need to be playing. The clubhouse is in turmoil and they just got swept in a 4 game series by the Atlanta Braves. Things did not get any better for the Mets Friday.
The Rockies jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Garrett Atkins hit a two run bomb off starter Oliver Perez. The Mets fought back to take the lead in the sixth by a score of 4-2. Clint Barmes did not allow that to last long, driving a two run double in the bottom of the inning.
The Mets jumped back on top in the top of the seventh, and until Holliday stepped up in the ninth, their losing streak seemed bound to end.
Rookie right hander Greg Reynolds made his third career start. He went six innings allowing four runs and struck out a career high five. Both he and Oliver Perez took a no decision in the game.
The game went so long, Jeff Francis and Aaron Cook each made pinch hit appearances. Taylor Buchholz took the win for the Rockies, working three scoreless innings. He allowed just two hits while striking out three.
The Rockies will try to take two in a row tonight.
