Three Reasons Colorado Won The Wild Card

Three reasons why the Colorado Rockies were able to win the National League wild card:
By SportsTicker

1. Winning 14 of their last 15 games, including a franchise-record 11-game winning streak, the longest in the majors this season. During the 15-game stretch, the Rockies hit .316 and outscored their opponents, 102-61. Colorado won a franchise-best 90 games this season and was 72-46 since May 22 - the best in the NL. "It's been a great ride so far. It's been a great experience. Experience you can't get anywhere else and it's been good for everyone involved in it," Colorado manager Clint Hurdle said.

2. Surprising pitching staff. Despite pitching in the thin air at Coors Field, the Rockies posted the best ERA in the NL since the All-Star break (3.86). Jeff Francis, who tied the single-season record for wins (17), was the only pitcher with 30 starts. The rotation received a big contribution down the stretch from rookies Franklin Morales, who set a club record for starters with 20 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings, and closer Manny Corpas, who converted 19 of 20 saves and yielded just one earned run over his last 24 games (23 2/3 innings) at Coors Field. During the final 15 games of the season, the bullpen posted a 2.26 ERA. "(Morales is) showing us that he can pitch and come up big for us at such a young age," Hurdle said.

3. Matt Holliday, Troy Tulowitzki and Brad Hawpe emerged into impact players. Holliday homered 11 times in a 12-game September stretch and became just the fifth player since 1949 to lead his league in both batting (.340) and RBI (137). Tulowitzki was just one RBI shy of becoming the first NL shortstop since Hall of Famer Ernie Banks to record 100 runs and 100 RBI in the same season. The rookie drove in 49 runs in his final 52 games and hit 24 home runs during the season - 22 after June 6. Hawpe carried the club down the stretch, going 21-for-48 with four homers and 20 RBI in the club's last 12 games. He posted career highs with 29 homers and 116 RBI and his 66 two-out RBI were the second most in the majors and a franchise record. "Those three have been unbelievable. They have pretty much carried our club down the stretch," Rockies first baseman Todd Helton said.