Colorado Rockies history: a franchise high of 24 hits in a game

On this day in Colorado Rockies history, in 2000, the Rockies set the new single-game franchise high of 24 hits in a game.

The Colorado Rockies ended their series with the Chicago Cubs yesterday with the bats finally waking up as they teed off Yu Darvish and company for 11 runs and 15 hits off the Cubs with the winds blowing out at Wrigley Field.

Neither the runs or hits were franchise records. The franchise record for runs in a game is 20 runs, in two separate games. The first was on September 23, 2003 at then-named Bank One Ballpark against the Arizona Diamondbacks and that feat was tied on September 20, 2005 against the San Diego Padres (you can check out the box scores for those games here and here).

However, on this day in 2000, the Colorado Rockies set their franchise record for hits in a game against the Montreal Expos, as they had 24 hits against the Expos (insert reference to Coors).

The Rockies faced Expos starter Hideki Irabu with this lineup

With that starting lineup, each and every one of the Rockies would get at least one hit (including Astacio). The Rockies had twelve batters get at least one hit. Even reliever Jose Jimenez got in on the action with a single. His single was one of 20 singles that the Rockies tallied that Wednesday afternoon.

Of the 20 singles, Todd Helton had five of them as well as two RBI. Goodwin, Walker, Helton and Cirillo combined to go 14-for-16 with a triple, 13 singles, seven RBI, and 10 runs scored.

The four extra bases were a leadoff triple by Mike Lansing in the third innings, a RBI double by Neifi Perez in the third inning, a 2 RBI triple by Goodwin in the fourth, and a 2 RBI double by Hammonds in the 5th.

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It was an odd game since the Rockies did not have a home run, but yet, they scored 16 runs.

"“It wasn’t respectively a Coors Field day here,” Rockies hitting coach and future manager Clint Hurdle said. “There were no home runs, but 24 hits are 24 hits. Sixteen runs are 16 runs and it was from the top to the bottom of the lineup. Everybody participated.” (h/t CBS News, who reported on it at the time)"

Colorado needed only six innings to break its previous hit record of 21 hits as Darren Bragg singled to right field off reliever Mike Johnson. It was the 18th single of the game for the Rockies.

"“They just bled to death today,” said outfielder Jeffrey Hammonds, the last Colorado starter to get a hit.” (h/t CBS)"

This game was the finale in a six game homestand for the Rockies and there were some mind boggling stats from their homestand.

The Rockies scored 72 runs in six games against the Expos and New York Mets, hitting double figures in five out of the six games.
Even though the Rockies scored double digits in five of the six games, they still only went 4-2 on the homestand.
In all, the three teams combined for 125 runs, an average of 20.8 per game, and 177 hits.

Montreal’s manager Felipe Alou was not too thrilled with the series, as the Expos were swept.

"“Murphy’s Law (the law that says that anything that can go wrong, will go wrong)? You saw it this series. Anything that can go wrong will go wrong in this ballpark,” Alou said. “How many runs and hits did they get 43 runs and 55 hits? And that was for one team only. I know we scored, enough.” (h/t CBS)"

Expos reliever Mike Johnson was most impressed by Todd Helton.

"“Helton impresses me the most,” Johnson said. “I think he is hitting 2.000 off me if that is possible.” (h/t CBS)"

Helton, who led the majors with 32 RBI at the time, finished the six game homestand going 15-for-23 with four HRs and nine RBI. Jeff Cirillo, who was in front of Helton in the lineup, went 4-for-4. With that, he went 12-for-25 homestand. He also extended his hitting streak to 11 games.

The Rockies would later tie their 24 hit feat in this game in 2003, against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Next: 3 simple ways to improve the offense

The 2018 Rockies would love if they could have one of these kinds of days to gain some confidence and some momentum in their season as they will head into Friday with a 17-15 record, good enough for second place in the NL West, but fifth in the race for the second NL Wild Card spot.

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This day in Colorado Rockies history: a franchise high of 24 hits in a game

By Noah Yingling | May 2, 2018

On this day in Colorado Rockies history, in 2000, the Rockies set the new single-game franchise high of 24 hits in a game.

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