Colorado Rockies: 4 Things to Know About Friday’s Win

Finally, early on Saturday morning, the ball bounced the way of the Colorado Rockies.

Ryan Raburn smacked an RBI double then was awarded home plate on Javier Baez’s throwing error, giving the Rockies a come-from-behind 7-6 extra-inning win over the Chicago Cubs.

After former Colorado outfielder Dexter Fowler gave the Cubs a 6-5 lead in the top of the 11th, the Rockies decided to rekindle some LoDo magic. With temperatures in the low 50s when the game began and a bevy of Cubs fans in attendance, the game felt more like mid-October than mid-August.

Facing Chicago closer Aroldis Chapman, Nick Hundley started the Colorado rally with a one-out single. Raburn, inserted into the game in the seventh inning at first base, blasted a 2-2 pitch to right-center, plating Hundley. Ben Zobrist threw the ball to Baez, who tried to nail Hundley at the plate. However, the ball skipped past everyone and into the Cubs dugout, allowing Raburn to score the winning run.

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“It was a strange night all the way around, but it’s typical of what this team has done this year,” Colorado manager Walt Weiss said. “We get down, then we fight our way back … it’s been a really resilient team.”

There were a lot of big moments and twists and turns in last night’s game. Here are four big things to know about the win.

David Dahl powerful in the leadoff spot

After Charlie Blackmon was scratched from the game with a toe injury, Dahl was put in the leadoff spot for the first time this season. The move paid off in a hurry.

Leading off the bottom of the first, Dahl connected on a 3-2 pitch to send the ball into the left field stands. It was the fourth home run of the season for Dahl and his first career leadoff home run. Ironically, it was the first leadoff home run by a player other than Blackmon since Fowler did it on June 2, 2013 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Dahl has now recorded a hit in 27 of 29 games to start his career and is batting .337 (31-for-92) over that span.

Even when Tyler’s bad, he’s good

Tyler Anderson pitched seven innings, allowing a career-high five runs on eight hits with one walk and a career-high tying eight strikeouts. Teams continue to get to him early as Fowler’s homer was the third Anderson has allowed in the first inning this season.

Still, Anderson had numerous strikeouts at big moments and picked off Kris Bryant to end the fifth. He also didn’t hide his excitement when he escaped a big jam in the third with a strikeout.

Otto keeps rocking

Adam Ottavino has not allowed a run in 35 consecutive games (since September 6, 2014), which is the longest scoreless games streak in Rockies history (previous: 33 games, Mike Myers in 2000). It is the third-longest scoreless streak by appearances in Major League history, and the longest since Craig Kimbrel set the all-time record with 38 consecutive scoreless games (June 14- Sept. 9, 2011).

Next: Looking at the Progression of DJ LeMahieu

DJ keeps spinning

DJ LeMahieu went 2-for-5 to extend his hitting streak to 10 games. He has recorded a hit in 15 of 17 games, including nine multi-hit games in August and is batting .477 (31-for-65) in the month.