Because Thin Air Is Good For You!
Over at ESPN SweetSpot Network, Value Over Replacement Grit just launched there on Wednesday and one of the older posts is about real-life "Casey at the Bat" situations. Since 1950 there were 36 games that ended the ninth inning with the score 4-2 and men left on second and third after a strikeout for the third out.
The Colorado Rockies appear on this list just once: June 20, 2004. Preston Wilson struck out swinging on a 1-2 count to end the game in the bottom of the ninth in the 4-2 decision. But the Rockies should never have been in that situation. Shawn Chacon had allowed a grand slam to Brian Roberts in the top of the ninth, putting the Rockies from a 2-0 lead into a 4-2 deficit.
Amusingly, future Colorado Rockies pitcher Jorge Julio was the pitcher who induced the strikeout. Julio had also gotten the previous strikeout in a "Casey at the Bat" situation in 2002 when he struck out the Los Angeles Dodgers' Adrian Beltre.Oh, and the last player to fail like Casey? Albert Pujols in July 2011.
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