June 5, 2009: Colorado Rockies 11, St. Louis Cardinals 4

July 14, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Colorado Rockies center fielder D. Fowler (24) is congratulated by first baseman T. Helton (17) after scoring a run during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

On June 5, 2009, the Colorado Rockies defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 11-4 at Busch Stadium in Jim Tracy‘s first week as manager after replacing the recently-fired Clint Hurdle. 

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The 2009 Colorado Rockies had an interesting year, finishing 92-70 and going to the playoffs, where they lost to the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Division Series. As strong as the club would finish, though, they didn’t start well, leading to Clint Hurdle’s firing as manager on May 29, 2009.

One week later, on June 5, 2009 – exactly six years ago today (and it’s my birthday!!) – the Rockies responded and started the middle of a four-month hot streak, defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 11-4 at Busch Stadium behind two home runs and Jorge De La Rosa‘s first win of the season.

The game was tight through six innings, with the Rockies leading just 2-1 entering the top of the seventh. But in that frame, the Rox put up nine (!) runs, first off starter Adam Wainwright to bounce him after 6.1 innings, and then off the bullpen. In fact, two relievers – Dennys Reyes and Jason Motte – combined to give up three hits and three walks, for six total runs in the inning, without recording an out between them. Yikes.

Homers by Dexter Fowler and Ian Stewart in that big inning put the Rox ahead for good, and the team coasted to an easy victory.

The club had fired Clint Hurdle just a week earlier, and with Jim Tracy at the helm, we all now know what would happen. Tracy was 74-42 (!) with the Rockies that year, winning National League Manager of the Year and pushing an early also-ran into a playoff-caliber team.

The win on that day marked Jorge De La Rosa’s first of the season. After starting the year 0-6, he’d go 16-3 down the stretch run to lead the Rockies into the playoffs with what was at that point the best season of his career.

Yeah, it might not have started fun, but Rockies baseball was fun in ’09.

Why does that matter?

Well, for one, on June 5, 2009, those Rockies were 22-32. They went 70-38 down the stretch, which is dominant. The 2015 Rockies are 24-28 entering play on June 5. I doubt they’re going to win 70 games down the stretch, but, hey! Weird stuff happens!

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(I know, the ’09 team was stacked with talent this team just doesn’t have, so let’s not be thinking 90 wins can happen this year. Nevertheless, the there’s-lots-of-games-left point stands.)

Also, this matters because June 5 is my birthday. Yay! What’d you get me? Mean tweets? Mean tweets!

Send me your birthday hate tweets, please.