Rockies 2, Cubs 1: Rockies win Wild Card game in extra innings to advance to NLDS

The Colorado Rockies and the Chicago Cubs played a wild game indeed in the National League Wild Card game. It went 13 innings and was a nail-biter from start to finish. Ultimately the Rockies scratched out a late run and won 2-1 to advance to the National League Division Series.

Tony Wolters comes through

A one game sample is going to be random and unpredictable. On the one hand, a low scoring game between these two mediocre offenses was predictable. On the other hand, a wild extra innings game was not, and the hero most certainly was not.

Wolters followed a couple of soft singles by Trevor Story and Gerardo Parra in the 13th inning with a run-scoring shot up the middle. He put a great swing on a pitch with two strikes, and now he’s the hero of a memorable Rockies playoff win.

Kyle Freeland was awesome

What else can you say about Freeland? He was up to the task in Wrigley Field on short rest, going 6 ²⁄₃ shutout innings. I don’t care how much the Cubs offense has been struggling. That is a big boy showing, especially as he matched Jon Lester for the night. His great start is a big reason why the Rockies advanced in the playoffs.

Bud Black double switched his ass off

I guess I don’t know if the moves were good or bad or indifferent. Drew Butera batted multiple times and Charlie Blackmon was on the bench when the game ended. Then again, Scott Oberg was available to close the game out. I know I could never manage a game like this, so I’ll just say that Black was not shy about using his entire roster.

About that bullpen

Adam Ottavino tripped up to allow the only Chicago run, and there were a lot of heroes after that as the Rockies held on. Wade Davis went 1 ¹⁄₃ innings. Seunghwan Oh went 1 ²⁄₃ innings. Chris Rusin worked a full inning, and the aforementioned Oberg shut the door with authority working more than one inning. This team rode its pitching all year, and even if the bullpen had some down moments, it was fitting that they came through on this night.

Oberg deserves a special shout-out for getting those final outs, which is no small task any night but especially in the playoffs.

Looking ahead

The Rockies will try to get some rest and then start their Division Series with the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday afternoon. It’s officially Rocktober!