The Colorado Rockies' marathon playoff game had to be giving them flashbacks to another playoff contest in a win-or-go-home game, which is good because they beat the San Diego Padres to earn a Wild Card spot in 2007. They got the best of that kind of contest again on Tuesday night, winning the NL Wild Card Game in 13 innings, 2-1, over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. They did so behind pinch-hitter Tony Wolters' game-winning RBI single in the 13th, ending the longest win-or-go-home contest in MLB Postseason history.
The game was dominated by the starting pitchers, as Jon Lester and Kyle Freeland both shut down the opposing offenses, holding the score at 1-0 until the eighth. Javier Baez tied things up with an RBI double, as the Cubs seemed to have all of the momentum, but failed to walk things off in the four opportunities they had to do so. The 26-year-old Wolters, who came over from the Cleveland Indians, drove in Trevor Story with his single back up the middle off of reliever Kyle Hendricks.
Hendricks was the second starter used out of the Cubs' bullpen, as Cole Hamels threw three shutout innings in extras. Scott Oberg got the win for the Rockies after striking Kris Bryant out to end the 12th and then striking out the side in the 13th. That ended the longest postseason game in Wrigley Field history, as he got Albert Almora Jr. swinging to end the game.
The game lasted four hours, 55 minutes, but looked as if it was going to go by quick the way that Lester and Freeland were dealing. Lester allowed a first-inning run on four hits and struck out nine over six innings. He did not seem too happy when manager Joe Maddon informed him that his night was over after just 86 pitches. The Rockies' starter pitched in to the seventh and did not give up a run while striking out six batters, as he only threw 82 pitches before getting pulled after 6.2 innings.
Wolters' game-winning knock was his first hit since September 10th, as he ended just the third win-or-go-home game to go at least 12 innings. That joined the 2014 A.L. Wild Card Game and Game 7 of the the 1924 World Series. The Rockies now advance to their first divisional series since 2009, as they will battle the Milwaukee Brewers beginning on Thursday.
The game was dominated by the starting pitchers, as Jon Lester and Kyle Freeland both shut down the opposing offenses, holding the score at 1-0 until the eighth. Javier Baez tied things up with an RBI double, as the Cubs seemed to have all of the momentum, but failed to walk things off in the four opportunities they had to do so. The 26-year-old Wolters, who came over from the Cleveland Indians, drove in Trevor Story with his single back up the middle off of reliever Kyle Hendricks.
Hendricks was the second starter used out of the Cubs' bullpen, as Cole Hamels threw three shutout innings in extras. Scott Oberg got the win for the Rockies after striking Kris Bryant out to end the 12th and then striking out the side in the 13th. That ended the longest postseason game in Wrigley Field history, as he got Albert Almora Jr. swinging to end the game.
The game lasted four hours, 55 minutes, but looked as if it was going to go by quick the way that Lester and Freeland were dealing. Lester allowed a first-inning run on four hits and struck out nine over six innings. He did not seem too happy when manager Joe Maddon informed him that his night was over after just 86 pitches. The Rockies' starter pitched in to the seventh and did not give up a run while striking out six batters, as he only threw 82 pitches before getting pulled after 6.2 innings.
Wolters' game-winning knock was his first hit since September 10th, as he ended just the third win-or-go-home game to go at least 12 innings. That joined the 2014 A.L. Wild Card Game and Game 7 of the the 1924 World Series. The Rockies now advance to their first divisional series since 2009, as they will battle the Milwaukee Brewers beginning on Thursday.
