Colorado Rockies morning after: Another Labor Day moment for Bettis

Chad Bettis gave the Colorado Rockies and Major League Baseball one of its most uplifting moments earlier this season when he returned to the mound after overcoming cancer and subsequent chemotherapy treatments. On Monday, Bettis gave the Rockies another emotional jolt … perhaps when they needed it most.

Bettis threw 5.1 solid innings and had an RBI single early, then Carlos Gonzalez drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the ninth inning as Colorado got back in the win column with a 4-3 decision against the San Francisco Giants on a smoky Labor Day at Coors Field.

Monday’s outcome at Coors Field, combined with Milwaukee’s 5-4 walkoff loss to Cincinnati earlier in the day gives the Rockies a 1.5-game lead over the Brewers in the race for the second National League Wild Card spot. It also provided the Rockies with just their second win in the past seven games.

The walk drawn by Gonzalez was the third walk of the inning taken by the Rockies. After Charlie Blackmon’s leadoff double, Nolan Arenado was intentionally walked after DJ LeMahieu grounded out. Gerardo Parra drew a walk to load the bases and CarGo accomplished his first-ever walkoff walk on four pitches.

"“At that point, it not about getting a hit. It’s not about hitting a home run. It’s about getting the job done,” Gonzalez told Rox Pile and other media members after the game. “I was happy that I didn’t need to swing the bat to win the game.”"

Colorado Rockies

Bettis faced the Giants for the second consecutive Labor Day in Denver and provided his second memorable moments in as many Labor Day matchups as well. Last season, he threw a complete game two-hitter to wow the crowd. This year, his two-out RBI single through the right side of the infield plated Carlos Gonzalez to tie the game at 2-2.

"“I was just trying to shoot the ball the other way, honestly,” Bettis smiled after the game."

His single was the first of four consecutive runners for the Rockies. Blackmon followed the Bettis single with a base hit and LeMahieu brought Bettis home with the go-ahead run on Colorado’s third consecutive single.

LeMahieu’s RBI single gave the Rockies their first lead since Tuesday’s 7-3 final score in the win against the Detroit Tigers, a span of 39 innings. That is how tough things have been at 20^th and Blake in recent days.

Blackmon also started the scoring for the Rockies with a solo home run in the third inning, a blast into the Giants bullpen on a 2-0 count that was his 33^rd of the season. That, combined with his fourth-inning single gave Blackmon 60 multi-hit games on the season. He became the 10^th Rockies player to record at least 60 multi-hit games in a season. He also became the first to do it since Todd Helton in 2003.

Bettis finished by throwing 87 pitches during his 5.1 innings of work, striking out three and not issuing a walk. While he gave up just five hits, two were long balls from Denard Span and Joe Panik that accounted for all three of San Francisco’s runs against him.

"“Just executing pitches a lot better, honestly. The only one I want back is the one Span hit out. Those top two guys were on me all day and you have to tip your hat to them,” Bettis told Rox Pile and other media members."

Play of the day: Colorado closer Greg Holland not only participated in self-preservation on the mound in the ninth inning on Monday, but he also fired up the crowd in the game’s late stages.

With one out in the ninth, Pablo Sandoval smoked an 0-1 pitch back to Holland, who made arguably the play of the day in not only saving himself but also getting a key late out.

"“It got the crowd going. The crowd was into it today a couple of different times. The crowd has been awesome all year,” Colorado manager Bud Black said."

Next: 3 things that will make or break the Rockies in September

It was the second consecutive 1-2-3 inning thrown by Holland, a good sign for the Rockies after he posted a 1-4 mark and 13.50 ERA in 11 August outings.