Denver, CO (Sports Network) – Seth Smith capped an improbable nine-run rally in the ninth inning with a game-ending three-run homer, and the Colorado Rockies recorded their largest ninth-inning comeback with a 12-9 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.
Trailing by six to begin the ninth, Colorado rallied to somehow win the game.
Denys Reyes began his second inning of work for St. Louis, but Miguel Olivo singled and moved to third on Melvin Mora’s one-out single. Clint Barmes worked a walk, and Reyes uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Olivo to score.
Ryan Franklin (3-1) came in from the bullpen, and Chris Iannetta greeted him with a three-run blast to pull the Rockies to within 9-7.
Dexter Fowler kept the rally going with a double, then went to third when pinch-hitter Brad Hawpe was narrowly thrown out at first on a slow roller to shortstop. It became a one-run game when Carlos Gonzalez followed with an RBI single to right.
Jason Giambi, representing the winning run, laced a single into the gap in right-center. Gonzalez, on the move with two outs, was able to race all the way home after Randy Winn couldn’t handle the ball cleanly, tying the score.
Olivo, batting for the second time in the frame, sent a ground ball single to right to put runners on the corners, setting up Smith’s three-run, game- winning shot that barely cleared the right field fence.