Colorado Rockies history: the Rockies win in a slugfest against the Marlins

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DENVER – MAY 18: Catcher Chris Iannetta #20 of the Colorado Rockies takes an at bat against the Minnesota Twins during Interleague MLB action at Coors Field on May 18, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies defeated the Twins 6-2. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /

We continue with our top 32 moments in Rockies franchise history tournament with a moment that happened fairly recently: July 4, 2008. The Rockies and (then-named) Florida Marlins faced each other in a classic Coors Field duel. The Rockies won the game by the score of 18-17.

On July 4, 2008, both the Rockies and Florida Marlins were going two different directions. The Rockies entered the game with the third worst record in the National League at 35-51. This was only one year after they went to the World Series. The Marlins, surprisingly, had the fifth best record in the league at 44-41, 2.5 games back of the eventual World Champion Philadelphia Phillies. But on this day, the Rockies celebrated Independence Day with a huge win against the Florida Marlins as they won the game by the score of 18-17.

The starting lineups

Florida Marlins

The Rockies

The scoring started very early in the game. In fact, it’s as early as you can get.

DENVER, CO – JULY 14: Ryan Spilborghs #19 of the Colorado Rockies heads toward first as he watches his solo homerun off of starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo #49 of the Milwaukee Brewers in the first inning at Coors Field on July 14, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /

On the very first pitch of the game, Hanley Ramirez led of the game with a home run. Greg Reynolds walked Jeremy Hermida and hit Jorge Cantu. Two batters later, Mike Jacobs had an RBI double that scored Hermida. Two batters later, Matt Treanor hit a three-run home run to make it a 5-0 Marlins game. Alfredo Amezaga singled but Reynolds retired Scott Olsen, the pitcher and the ninth batter in the inning to retire the side.

In the bottom half of the inning, the Rockies chipped at the lead at Ryan Spilborghs led off with a double. Clint Barmes follwed with an RBI double to make it a 5-1 Marlins game. However, the Rockies were retired in order after that.

The Marlins came out swinging in the second inning Ramirez and Cantu each got singles. Josh Willingham followed Cantu with a ground-rule/fan-interference double that scored both runners to make it a 7-1 game. Reynolds walked Jacobs and that was the end of his evening.

Reynolds went 1 1/3 innings with seven hits, seven runs, and two walks allowed.

Cedrick Bowers replaced Reynolds (I know, who in the world is he?) and he did not allow any more damage in the inning.

DENVER, CO – JULY 25: Troy Tulowitzki #2 of the Colorado Rockies reacts after flying out in the seventh inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Coors Field on July 25, 2015 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

The Rockies chipped at the 7-1 Marlins lead with a double by Troy Tulowitzki, a walk by Bowers, a RBI singles by Spilborghs and Barmes to make it a 7-3 game.

Bowers got through the third with no issues (Scott Olsen got a single but he was retired on a double play).

In the third inning, Garrett Atkins led off with a double and he advanced to third on an error by Amezaga. Jeff Baker knocked him in with an RBI groundout but no further damage came in the inning.

In the fourth inning, Bowers unraveled as Cantu got on with a leadoff single, Willingham walked (with a wild pitch that advanced Cantu to second during the at-bat), a single to Jacobs, a three-run double by Ross, and a RBI double to Treanor.

Luis Vizcaino came on in relief and he allowed a RBI double to Ramirez that scored Amezaga (that run was charged to Bowers) and an RBI single by Hermida. Jorge Cantu batted for the second time in the inning and he flied out to end the inning. The Rockies were down 13-4 entering the bottom of the fourth inning.

NEW YORK – JULY 15: National League All-Star Matt Holliday of the Colorado Rockies rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the 5th inning during the 79th MLB All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium on July 15, 2008 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Spilborghs hit a two-out home run in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 13-5 game. In the bottom of the fifth, Matt Holliday led off with a home run and following a single by Atkins and a double by Baker, Chris Iannetta hit a three-run home run to make it a 13-9 game.

The Marlins went down 1-2-3 in the top of the sixth but the Rockies chipped into the Marlins lead even more as Spilborghs hit his second homer of the day off new reliever Taylor Tankersley. Barmes singled and two batters later, Atkins hit a two-run home run to make it a 13-12 game.

Joe Nelson came on to relieve Tankersley but, with the exception of two walks, nothing came about.

In the top of the seventh facing Jason Grilli (who was in his second inning of work), the Marlins added to their lead as Cantu and Willingham led off the inning with doubles. Cantu did not score on Willingham’s double, though, as it was a shallow pop-fly that nobody caught. Jacobs was intentionally walked and Cody Ross followed Jacobs with a two-run single to make it a 15-12 Marlins lead. Manny Corpas came on in relief in a double-switch after that. Three batters later, Luis Gonzalez (the former Diamondbacks outfielder, not the former Rockies second baseman) had a two-run single to make it a 17-12 game. Corpas retired Ramirez to stop the bleeding.

LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 03: Shortstop Clint Barmes #12 of the Colorado Rockies watches his throw to first to turn the double play as he jumps over James Loney #7 of the Los Angeles Dodgers on October 3, 2009 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers won 5-0 to clinch the National League West. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /

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Omar Quintanilla led off the bottom of the seventh inning against new reliever Justin Miller. He walked Spilborghs and new pitcher Logan Kensing walked Barmes to load the bases. Matt Holliday came up and, with a 3-2 count, he hit a grand slam to make it a 17-16 Marlins lead. It remained a 17-16 game until the bottom of the ninth inning.

Kevin Gregg, the Marlins closer, came on to shut the door but he couldn’t. Barmes led off with a single followed by Holliday with another single. Atkins came through with the third straight single to make it a 17-17 game by scoring Barmes. Two batters later, Chris Iannetta walked it off with a RBI single to cap off a great comeback and great game on Independence Day.

Aftermath

The Rockies ended up finishing the season in third place with a 74-88 record, far from their 90-73 record that got them the National League Wild Card and a spot in the 2007 World Series.

The Marlins finished their season with a 84-77 record, their best season since they won the World Series in 2003. However, they still finished in third place in the National League East.

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Home / Colorado Rockies History

We continue with our top 32 moments in Rockies franchise history tournament with a moment that happened fairly recently: July 4, 2008. The Rockies and (then-named) Florida Marlins faced each other in a classic Coors Field duel. The Rockies won the game by the score of 18-17.

The starting lineups

More from Rox Pile

Aftermath

Voting for our tournament

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