Macho Row Phlashback: 2007 NLDS - Game One

This is the first part in a three part series looking back at the 2007 NLDS between the Phillies and Rockies.

The return to the playoffs for the first time since 1993 was short-lived for the Philadelphia Phillies. After clinching the NL East title in one of the most memorable final days of the season in recent memory, it seemed like the Phillies were a team of destiny. Little did we know that the title of "Team of Destiny" was already taken by the Colorado Rockies in 2007.

The Rockies stormed in to the post season after beating division rival San Diego in a one game playoff in extra innings and would fly out to Philadelphia on one of the hottest winning streaks ever seen entering the playoffs.

2007 NLDS

Philadelphia Phillies (89-73) vs. Colorado Rockies (90-73)
Game One: Rockies win 4-2, take 1-0 series lead

Cole Hamels took the mound for the Phillies, fresh off an exuberant celebration after winning the NL East in the unlikeliest of fashions. Jimmy Rollins was on his way to winning the National League MVP award, but it was the Rockies who had all of the momentum heading in to game one of the National League Division Series. The Phillies were paired up with the Rockies because the Arizona Diamondbacks had clinched a spot in the post season as NL West champions, who also owned the National League's best record. Because MLB does not pair division foes in the first round of the playoffs, the Phillies had the unfortunate task of trying to slow down the Rockies.

The first inning went smoothly for both starting pitchers, Hamels and Colorado's Jeff Francis, a seventeen game winner. But in the second inning Hamels was unable to keep the Rockies off the score board. It all started with a triple by the heralded veteran, Todd Helton, in his first postseason at-bat. Helton scored the game's first run after Garrett Atkins brought him home on a base hit and Yorvit Torrealba helped get the Rockies out to a 2-0 lead with a base hit of his own. Hamels then failed to get out of a bases loaded jam before ending the inning, and issued a bases loaded walk to the rookie shortstop, Troy Tulowitzki. Hamels appeared frsutrated on the mound and may have been affected by the warm weather. After giving up three runs in the second inning Hamels removed his long sleeves under his jersey and appeared to settle down in his postseason debut.

Though Hamels kept the Rockies off the score board for the rest of his time on the mound, the offense failed to figure out Francis. Outfielders Aaron Rowand and Pat Burrell did connect for back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the fifth inning but that was as close as the Phillies got to the Rockies. It was the Rockies outfielder, who could have legitimately been the NL MVP, Matt Holliday who gave the Rockies an insurance run in the eighth inning with a solo home run off of Phillies reliever Tom Gordon. Gordon had entered the game after Hamels completed seven innings of work.

The Rockies went on to take game one of the series, thus taking away home field advantage from the NL East champions. Many were quick to the Sports Illustrated jinx, as Rollins landed on the cover for the magazine's baseball playoff preview issue. But let us be clear. There was no jinx here. The Rockies were just the hotter team entering this series, and they showed that they would be tough to deal with in game one.

Unfortuneately for the Phillies, the Rockies were not quite done yet with their hot streak. Game two would be a chance for the visitors to take a commanding lead in the best-of-five series back home to Denver.

Part Two, with a look back at the second game of the 2007 NLDS, will be posted tomorrow.