Colorado Rockies history: Troy Tulowitzki hits for the cycle

Entering Monday, August 10, 2009, the Colorado Rockies were in a three-way tie for the third best record in the National League and in a two-way tie for the National League Wild Card spot with the San Francisco Giants. They would go on to win the National League Wild Card spot and go to the National League Division Series but on that Monday night at Coors Field, the Rockies would face the Chicago Cubs and that night would become one of our best moments in Colorado Rockies franchise history.

The Colorado Rockies were wrapping up a four-game series that had started the previous Friday against the Chicago Cubs. They had won two of the previous three games against the Cubs so, at worst, they would be looking for a split in the series. However, Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki would make taking three out of four much easier as on this night, he would hit for the cycle in front of 34,485 people in attendance and thousands more watching on television and thousands more listening on radio.

This is how the starting lineups would look that evening.

Chicago Cubs (58-51, 2nd place in the NL Central, two games back of the Cardinals)

1. Ryan Theriot, SS
2. Milton Bradley, RF
3. Derrek Lee, 1B
4. Jake Fox, 3B
5. Geovany Soto, C
6. Alfonso Soriano, LF
7. Jeff Baker, 2B (who had been traded from the Rockies to the Cubs in July)
8. Sam Fuld, CF
9. Tom Gorzelanny, SP

That lineup was made Cubs manager Lou Piniella. This lineup for the Rockies was made by Jim Tracy, who took over for Clint Hurdle earlier in the season.

1. Dexter Fowler, CF
2. Ryan Spilborghs, LF
3. Todd Helton, 1B
4. Troy Tulowitzki, SS
5. Brad Hawpe, RF
6. Garrett Atkins, 3B
7. Clint Barmes, 2B
8. Yorvit Torrealba, C
9. Jorge De La Rosa, SP

Here’s how the historical evening unfolded.