Colorado Rockies vs. New York Yankees: Highs, lows, and history

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 21: Nolan Arenado #28 of the Colorado Rockies in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on July 21, 2019 in New York City. Colorado Rockies defeated the New York Yankees 8-4. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 21: Nolan Arenado #28 of the Colorado Rockies in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on July 21, 2019 in New York City. Colorado Rockies defeated the New York Yankees 8-4. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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DENVER – SEPTEMBER 19: Pitcher Mike Hampton #10 of the Colorado Rockies throws a pitch during the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on September 19, 2001 at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies won 8-2. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
DENVER – SEPTEMBER 19: Pitcher Mike Hampton #10 of the Colorado Rockies throws a pitch during the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on September 19, 2001 at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies won 8-2. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

The first-ever meeting between the Yankees and Rockies took place at Coors Field in June of 2002 and the three-game series ended with a beauty, at least for Colorado fans.

After losing to the Yankees the previous day 20-10 (in a game where starting pitchers Mike Hampton and Andy Pettitte gave up a combined 15 runs in a combined 8.2 innings pitched), Colorado had some walkoff magic saved up for Sunday.

More from Colorado Rockies History

In a game started by Roger Clemens, the game would come down to the 10th inning. Facing Yankees reliever Steve Karsay, Colorado’s Larry Walker led off the bottom frame with a single to right and Todd Helton followed with a single as well. Todd Zeile would then prove to be the hero, smacking a three-run home run to left field for the walkoff win.

Ironically, Zeile would sign with the Yankees for the 2003 season. We recently highlighted him in a series of “Forgotten Rockies.”

The Yankees last visited Denver in 2016 as Colorado took both games of the two-game set. Included in that series was a 13-10 Colorado win where the Yankees scored seven times in the top of the eighth to pull close before Carlos Estevez pitched a perfect ninth to record the save.