Pivotal performances by Spilborghs and Blake Street Bombers push Rockies into postseason

Noah Spirek | @NoahSpirek | March 31, 2025

As the Rockies prepare to embark on their 30th Anniversary of Coors Field, Blake Street Banter is counting down the top 30 moments in the history of the ballpark.

Known for its spacious outfield, beautiful sunset views and the occasional bullpen implosion, Coors Field has always delivered excitement. Whether it’s Fourth of July fireworks or a midsummer night filled with towering home runs, the corner of 20th & Blake is the place to be during the summer in the Mile High City.

With the countdown nearing the top five, here are moments No. 6 and 7 in Coors Field history.

Read more from the series.

No. 6: Spilly’s Walk-off Grand Slam – Aug. 24, 2009

After their magical trip to the 2007 World Series, the Colorado Rockies failed to meet expectations in 2008, finishing a disappointing 74-88. In 2009, the struggles continued, as the Rockies began the year 18-28.

With their season hanging in the balance, general manager Dan O’Dowd dismissed manager Clint Hurdle, leaving first-year bench coach Jim Tracy as the interim manager. The risky move proved to be a spark, as the Rockies went 52-26 over the next 78 games.

Entering a showdown with the San Francisco Giants on August 24 at 70-54, the Rockies were surging back into the postseason picture despite trailing the Los Angeles Dodgers in their quest to secure the franchise’s first National League West title.

The home crowd of 27,670 — not bad for a Monday night — was treated to a rare Mile High pitcher’s duel. While San Francisco’s Barry Zito allowed just one unearned run over six innings of work, Colorado’s Jason Marquis dazzled. The first-time All-Star matched the former Cy Young Award winner with eight innings of one-run ball. As the game stretched into extra innings, the 1-1 deadlock remained until the 14th inning, when the Giants scored three times to take a commanding 4-1 lead.

However, Colorado would not back down.

The Rockies rallied, loading the bases on a Dexter Fowler walk and two singles from Chris Iannetta and Troy Tulowitzki. With one out and an empty bench, Colorado called relief pitcher Adam Eaton to the plate, miraculously working a five-pitch walk to force in a run. That set the stage for Ryan Spilborghs.

Down 4-2, the man lovingly known as Spilly launched an 0-1 pitch deep into the Denver night for a grand slam that landed in the Rockies bullpen. Spilly, who had lost his mother earlier in the year, took an emotional sprint around the bases as he celebrated his first career walk-off homer.

The clutch blast gave Colorado a crucial victory and marked the first walk-off grand slam in franchise history. More importantly, the Spilly Slam spurned a resilient Rockies corps to claim a postseason berth and finish at 22-16 the rest of the way. At 92-70, the 2009 club set a franchise high for wins, a mark that still stands all these years later.

No. 7: The Rockies’ First Postseason Birth – Oct. 1, 1995

In their inaugural season at Coors Field, and just their third year as a franchise, the Colorado Rockies rewarded their passionate fanbase with a trip to the postseason, becoming the fastest expansion franchise at the time to reach the postseason.

Bolstered by the offseason signings of future Hall of Famer Larry Walker and Bill Swift, the top starting pitching free agent on the market, Colorado set out with great expectations. At the trade deadline, the Rockies furthered their push for the postseason by acquiring two-time Cy Young Award winner Bret Saberhagen.

Powered by the Blake Street Bomber — with quintessential quintent of Walker, Dante Bichette, Andrés Galarraga, Ellis Burks, and Vinny Castilla — the Rockies clubbed a league-leading 200 home runs.

Heading into the final game of the season, Colorado had controlled their destiny with a win-and-in against the San Francisco Giants.

In a game they once trailed 8-2, the Rockies came all the way back to defeat the Giants 10-9 to punch their postseason ticket as the first ever National League Wild Card. The sellout crowd at Coors Field erupted as the final out was recorded and closer Curtis Leskanic jumped into the arms of catcher Joe Girardi.

After celebrating on the infield, the players and coaches took a victory lap around the warning track, soaking in the historic moment with the fans.

Led by manager Don Baylor, the Rockies finished the strike and lockout-shortened season at 77-67, just one game back of the Dodgers for what could have been their first division title. Their 44 home wins, tied for the most in the National League, set the precedent for home success at Coors Field.

Story by Noah Spirek.

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