When they put together the highlight reel of the Rockies’ 2020 season, shortstop Trevor Story will play a starring role.
And his play that saved a satisfying 5-4, 11-inning victory over San Francisco Thursday afternoon just might get top billing.
It went down like this:
The Giants had the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of 10th at Oracle Park as the shadows deepened. All the Giants needed was a hit, or just a sacrifice play, to win the game. With his team against the ropes, manager Bud Black set up a drawn-in, five-man infield.
Giants third baseman Evan Longoria ripped a 104 mph shot at Story, who somehow snared the ball and threw from his knees to catcher Tony Wolters to force out Alex Dickerson at the plate.
The Rockies went on to win the game in the 11th on Raimel Tapia’s go-ahead sacrifice fly.
“It was a tough play but it was very instinctual,” Story said. “You really don’t have time to think about it, you just have to set yourself up before the play. I know Longoria hits the ball really hard and he hits it at me — a lot. So I was kind of ready for that.
“I wanted to stay low and kind of make a play with my hands. And he kind of spun me around because he hit it so hard. I just tried to get up and make a play at home.”
Story’s gem came after hours after another highlight he pulled off Wednesday night. The shortstop went deep into the hole to backhand Austin Slater’s grounder and then made a leaping, long-distance throw across his body.
Closer Daniel Bard, who pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings Thursday to keep the Rockies in the game, marveled at Story’s athleticism.
“Off the bat, I thought the game was over,” Bard said. “I didn’t hit my spot and Longoria but a good swing on it. I don’t know where Trevor came from and I don’t know why he was where he was. But when you give him a chance to make a great play, he makes it.”
The Rockies (25-31), in need of a miracle to make the postseason, gained a split in the four-game series with the Giants, who fell back to .500 at 28-28. If the Giants fail to qualify, Story’s play just might have robbed them of their chance.
“I can’t imagine how hard it is to make that type of a play,” said manager Bud Black, who noted that third-base coach Stu Cole practices the five-man infield in spring training.
In addition to Story’s heroics, the Rockies, for a change, did nearly everything right when they had to. Reliever Jairo Diaz, who’s struggled so often this season, induced a groundball double play in the bottom of the 11th to clinch the win.
The Rockies took a 4-3 lead in the seventh, stringing hits together in a manner that’s been missing much of the season. The two-run rally began with a one-out single by Kevin Pillar, followed by a ground-rule double to left by Story. Pillar scored from third on Charlie Blackmon’s groundout to short and Story scored on Josh Fuentes’ two-out single.
The lead evaporated on Mychal Givens’ third pitch in the bottom of the frame, a 1-1 changeup that Brandon Belt muscled into the left-field seats.
Colorado received a solid outing from right-hander Chi Chi Gonzalez, who was making his last start of the season.
“This was my last start, so I wanted to make it a special one and I’m glad we came out on top,” Gonzalez said. “We kind of grinded out that win.”
Based on the first two innings, it appeared that Gonzalez’s day on the hill would be a short one. The Giants tagged him for two runs on three hits in the first, with an RBI single by Wilmer Flores and a run-scoring double by Brandon Crawford.
San Francisco added another run in the second to go ahead 3-0, loading the bases with no outs on three consecutive singles. Although Joey Bart scored on a wild pitch, Gonzalez was able to limit the damage.
“I got a little out of my zone, just being frustrated with the umpire, who missed a couple of calls,” he said. “But that’s part of the game. I was happy that the only damage was two runs in the first.”
He mostly cruised from there and ended up pitching 5 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and only two walks.
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September 25, 2020 at 11:34AM
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Rockies beat Giants in extra innings thanks to Story highlight reel play, Tapia sac fly - Loveland Reporter-Herald
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