Maybe it was the bad pitching. Maybe it was the hot weather. Maybe it’s the epitome of a back-to-back 100-plus loss seasons for a team making a competitive run toward the worst record in MLB history. Maybe it’s all of the above.
But this last homestand at Coors Field with six games against the Pirates and Blue Jays was a high-scoring affair that makes the #Coors stereotype true and almost feels like the pre-humidor and pre-Bridich Barrier days.
The Rockies went 2-4 during the homestand as the six game scores totaled 111 runs. Colorado was outscored 75-36 during the stretch where each game averaged 18.5 total. The Rockies took the series vs. the Pirates, tying them in scoring 30-30, for an average of 20 runs per game and 10 per team. Being swept by the Blue Jays, the Rockies were outscored 45-6 in less of a #Coors fashion than a good-old-fashion butt kicking without any hope of any comebacks.
In an effort to escape that latest humiliating sweep, I thought it would be fun to look at the most #Coors games of all-time — only focusing on the Rockies wins. To meet the criteria, the games have to be high-scoring on both sides, a remarkable rally, a final score that seems almost too good to be true and, most of the time, a back-and-forth game where the teams trade leads at least a few times.
The games are listed in order of best win considering the size of the deficit overcome and the size of the rally needed to win and when it came, along with my opinion. It’s incredibly subjective and very much up to debate.
Hope you all enjoy some monumental good memories in the middle of a really terrible season!
No. 1: Rockies 17, Pirates 16, Aug. 1, 2025
Down to 9-0 in the first inning, this one seemed to be over as soon as it started. Instead, the Rockies became the first team to allow 15 or more runs, allow an inning of nine or more runs and face a nine-run deficit, and win in MLB history. The game featured 40 hits, including six homers — four by Rockies. The Rockies scored six runs in the first four innings, but still found themselves down 15-6 going into the bottom of the fifth. Then came another comeback, one that was capped off with a Brenton Doyle walk-off, two-run homer.
No. 2: Rockies 18, Marlins 17, July 4, 2008
One of three times the Rockies have overcome a nine-run deficit to win at Coors Field, this game is a Coors classic, especially because it came on the 4th of July. The Marlins jumped out to a 7-1 lead after an inning and a half. They extended it to 13-5 after four innings before the Rockies started to rally back with homers from Matt Holliday, Chris Iannetta, Ryan Spilborghs and Garrett Atkins to cut it to 13-12. The Marlins replied with insurance, regaining a 17-12. Holliday hit a grand slam in the seventh to make it 17-16, setting up an Iannetta walk-off RBI single to win it.
Here’s a detailed recap (28 minutes). Skip to the 25th minute to get to the bottom of the ninth.
No. 3: Rockies 12, Cardinals 9, July 6, 2010
St. Louis stretched a 3-2 lead to 9-2 after six innings. The Rockies scored one in the seventh, but the Rockies went into the bottom of the ninth down 9-3. While this game doesn’t have as much trading of leads as most Coors classics, a nine-run bottom of the ninth puts this in the epic category. It still holds the team record for the largest deficit overcome in the ninth inning or later in team history. With two outs, Seth Smith connected for a three-run, walk-off homer to cement this win as legend.
No. 4: Rockies 12, Braves 10, Aug. 25, 2010
This is the third and final game where the Rockies came back from nine runs down and it happened just 43 games after the walk-off against the Cardinals. This one doesn’t feature many lead changes, but the size of the comeback against a perennial playoff contender made this one special. Atlanta raced out to a 10-1 lead after three innings, but the Rockies cut it to 10-8 going into the bottom of the eighth. That’s when Carlos González, Troy Tulowitzki and Todd Helton hit back-to-back-to-back run-scoring singles in a four-run frame to put the Rockies up 12-10. Matt Belisle threw a perfect ninth inning for the win.
No. 5: Rockies 17, Giants 13, June 28, 2000
Going back even further, this game had the Coors classic yo-yo of lead changes. San Francisco took a 6-0 lead, which became an 8-1 lead. The Rockies rallied to take a 12-11 lead, the Giants tied the game at 12-all and then the Rockies finished on top with a four-run seventh inning. Jeff Cirillo was the star of the game with three home runs. He went 4-for-5 with six RBI, five runs scored and a walk.
No. 6: Rockies 13, Padres 12, July 12, 1996
Stretching back to the last century, this one doesn’t have a back-and-forth story. The Rockies trailed 3-0 off the bat and 4-2 after four innings. San Diego then jumped out to a 9-2 lead after six innings. Then came the seventh inning when the Rockies put up 11 runs on eight hits, highlighted by a Vinny Castilla grand slam for his second homer of the game. Ellis Burks hit a two-run double and Eric Young Sr. hit a two-run single as the Blake Street Bombers put on a show to put Colorado up 13-9. Despite a late rally and three runs in the top of the ninth, Curt Leskanic was able to close out the ninth for the win.
No. 7: Rockies 14, Yankees 11, 10 innings, June 20, 2002
This one deserves recognition not only for being against the Yankees but also because it jump-started a five-game winning streak and was the first of three consecutive walk-off wins in a row. After New York went ahead 8-2, the Rockies responded with an eight-run sixth inning that got a boost from a grand slam by Todd Hollandsworth. (Fun fact: Colorado’s lineup featured three Todds in a row with Todd Helton batting third, Todd Zeile at cleanup and Hollandsworth fifth). Despite being up 10-8, the Rockies blew their lead as the Yankees scored two runs in the top of the ninth to send it to extra innings. Denny Stark pitched a perfect top of the 10th, and when Larry Walker and Helton hit back-to-back singles to lead off the bottom of the frame (this was before the California tiebreaker rule that puts on a runner on second in extra innings), another Todd — this time Zeile — hit a three-run bomb to walk it off.
Colorado Rockies players celebrate a game winning 3 run homerun of Todd Zeile at the home plate at Coors Field against New York Yankees. Colorado won 14-11. (Photo By Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post via Getty Images) Denver Post via Getty Images
No. 8: Rockies 14, Astros 11, June 12, 1993
In the Rockies inaugural season, the scores often looked more like football scores than baseball scores. This one is grandfathered into #Coors because for two years, Mile High Stadium was the launch pad where the baseball world saw the Rockies arrive to great fanfare and barnburner results. The Astros went up 7-0 quickly, the Rockies cut the lead to 9-8, the game was briefly tied at 9-all and then the Rockies took a 14-9 lead after a five-run eighth. Andrés Galarraga hit a run-scoring single, Charlie Hayes hit an RBI double, Jerald Clark hit a two-run single and Jayhawk Owens added an RBI single in the productive frame. The Rockies 20 hits were enough to overcome five fielding errors in this odd game.
No. 9: Rockies 14, Diamondbacks 7, Sept. 2, 2016
This one was a roller coaster. Arizona jumped out to a 5-0 lead, then the Rockies went up 6-5, Arizona reclaimed the lead at 7-6 and then the Rockies tied it at 7-all after six innings. Nick Hundley hit a line drive grand slam and Daniel Descalso added a solo shot to carry the Rockies to a seven-run eighth inning to complete the comeback. Adam Ottavino pitched a perfect ninth with two strikeouts to help the Rockies earn the W.
No. 10: Rockies 10, Padres 9, June 29, 1994
This one is unusual and a little more special since it was the first game of a doubleheader. Another grandfathered-in selection since it was in the final season at Mile High Stadium, Colorado once again found itself down by a lot — 8-0 — after three and a half innings. First, Galarraga hit a two-run homer, then Howard Johnson followed with a grand slam to put the Rockies back in it in the bottom of the fourth. Colorado added three more runs in the fifth to take their first lead at 9-8. A Tony Gwynn homer tied it in the sixth and the tie remained until Dante Bichette hit an RBI single in the eighth inning that proved to be the game winner. Bruce Ruffin held it down in the ninth to get the save.
Rockies 14, Giants 11, Aug. 22, 2009
Rockies 13, Padres 9, Sept. 27, 2001
Rockies 15, Diamondbacks 8, Sept. 21, 2002
Do you have other memorable #Coors games you want to share? Do any of these stand out as favorites? Share in the comments!
Triple-A: Round Rock Express 13, Albuquerque Isotopes 6
Sterlin Thompson, Jose Torres and Blaine Crim all homered, but it wasn’t enough to get past the Express, which was fueled by two homers by former Rockie Alan Trejo on Thursday night. Gabriel Hughes started for the Isotopes and gave up two runs on five hits with one walk and two strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings in a no decision. Keston Hiura recorded two hits and drove in two runs, while Crim also drove in two runs.
Double-A: Hartford Yard Goats 10, Altoona Curve 5
Nic Kent hit a three-run double and Roniaker Palma added an RBI double, helping the Yard Goats jump out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning on their way to victory on Thursday nigh. Kent, Braylen Wimmer, Charlie Condon and Benny Montgomery all posted three-hit nights with Kent driving in four runs and Wimmer scoring three. After dropping the first two games against Altoona, Hartford claimed the first win of the six-game series.
High-A: Eugene Emeralds 4, Spokane Indians 3, 10 innings
Spokane took an 3-0 lead after seven innings, but the Emeralds rallyed back to send the game to extra innings only to win when Charlie Szykowny hit a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 10th. Jimmy Obertop and EJ Andrews Jr. each hit solo homers, and Tevin Tucker scored on a balk to make up for the scoring for the Indians. Andy Perez hit a double on a night when Spokane only totaled five hits.
Low-A: Fresno Grizzlies 9, Inland Empire 66ers 8
Inland Empire jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning, but Fresno rallied back with help from a Derek Bernard grand slam on the Grizzlies way to an impressive comeback win on Thursday. Juan Castillo added a solo homer and Roynier Hernandez had an RBI infield single that helped another run score due to a 66er fielding error, helping Fresno win. Hernandez, Castillo, Bernard, Wilder Dalis and Yeiker Reyes all recorded two-hit nights for the Grizzlies.
The Rockies No. 12 prospect in MLB Pipeline is shining for the Yard Goats and could be getting closer to the Big Leagues. The Rockies really need some good news in the starting pitching department and this could be one positive.
1 big question facing each team down the stretch | MLB.com
The MLB.com staff came together for this one and Thomas Harding’s for the Rockies is about who might debut in the final two months of the season. Will it be a position player like Kyle Karros or a pitcher like Gabriel Hughes? Or both?
Saturday will be a huge day in MLB history as Jen Pawol will break the umpire glass ceiling. She’s done Triple-A and spring training games before, but Saturday will mark a first. And, she’ll start with a doubleheader. Nothing like jumping in for a long first day, but it will be a great day for baseball.
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