Update, 9:38 p.m.: Scott Oberg gets Dodgers catcher Kyle Farmer to ground into a double play and the Rockies have won it 9-1. Their magic number to clinch the final National League playoff spot has been reduced to one. Tomorrow, Germán Márquez (11-7, 4.38 ERA) is scheduled to take the mound against Clayton Kershaw (18-4, 2.21 ERA). First pitch will be at 6:10 p.m. MT, so the Rockies could have the wild card locked up before the game starts.
Update, 9:08 p.m.: Chad Bettis was simply masterful tonight. He comes out after seven innings of one run ball, allowing just four hits and one walk with four strikeouts in the process. He retired the last 14 batters he faced. Just as Steve Foster said pre-game: a special performance.
Meanwhile, it’s all over in St Louis. Despite a two-run home run from Jose Martinez off Brewers closer Corey Knebel, Milwaukee still stays alive for one more day at least with a 5-3 victory. The two teams face off tomorrow at 2:15 p.m. MT at Busch Stadium. Cardinals rookie Luke Weaver (7-2, 3.23 ERA) will take on Junior Guerra (1-4, 4.90 ERA). If the Cards can ride Weaver’s right arm, the Rockies could have a playoff spot clinched before they even play an inning.
Update, 8:48 p.m.: The Cardinals (briefly) threaten in the bottom of the eighth but can’t score, and they go to the top of the ninth in St. Louis, 4-1 Brewers. Cardinals are really hurting without Matt Carpenter and Yadier Molina in the lineup.
Update, 8:26pm: The Rockies have added two more with CarGo scoring on a wild pitch and Blackmon bringing home Jonathan Lucroy with an RBI single. It’s 9-1 going to the sixth.
Update, 8:01 pm: Both the Rockies and Brewers have added a pair of runs to their leads, it’s 4-1 Milwaukee and 7-1 at Coors.
Update, 7:46 pm: taco’s
Update, 7:26 pm:
Just in case you need video proof that Blackmon is the best leadoff hitter.
.@Chuck_Nazty can absolutely CRUSH. pic.twitter.com/nEGgGZ0Cln
— MLB (@MLB) September 30, 2017
Update, 7:22 pm: Paul DeJong takes Chase Anderson deep and the Brewers lead is cut to 2-1. At Coors, the Dodgers are already into their very substantial bullpen with Walker Buehler into the game.
Update, 7:15 pm: The Dodgers get on the board with an RBI single from Justin Turner in the third, but it’s still a 5-1 lead for the Rockies. Brewers lead the Cardinals, 2-0, in the middle of the fourth.
Update, 7:09 pm: Stephen Vogt goes deep for Milwaukee and the Brewers lead, 2-0, in the fourth. Rockies still hold a 5-0 edge in the third, though the Dodgers are threatening.
Update, 6:54 pm: Chuck Nazty goes upper tank and gets a curtain call and it’s 5-0 Rockies, while the Brewers lead 1-0 in the third. It was Blackmon’s 101st RBI from the leadoff spot this season, a big league record.
Update, 6:49 pm:
It gets better every time you watch it.
Nolan prefers to control his own destiny. pic.twitter.com/aZQvYFKios
— MLB (@MLB) September 30, 2017
Update, 6:41 pm:
Reynolds joins Arenado and Blackmon with 30+ home runs, the first trio of #Rockies to hit 30+ since 2004 (Burnitz, Castillo, Helton).
— Rockies PR (@RockiesPR) September 30, 2017
Update, 6:31 p.m.: Mark Reynolds makes it 3-0 Rockies with his 30th home run of the season, a two-run shot. Cardinals-Brewers is scoreless through an inning.
Update, 6:27 p.m.: Nolan Arenado gets the Rockies on the board with a solo home run complete with a Sammy Sosa hop. Meanwhile, the Cardinals have a man on second with one out.
Tonight marks the biggest Rockies game in eight years. Chad Bettis is on the mound warming up as “Glorious” by Macklemore and Skyler Gray plays and we’re ready for baseball at Coors Field.