Rockies’ Helton rides on emotion

DENVER – Todd Helton hid his feelings through a decade of disappointment, his stoic expression as much a part of his image as his thick goatee.

Now, the Colorado Rockies’ remarkable run to their first World Series has brought out the kid in him.

“I’m not an emotional guy, but when something that significant happens, you just let ‘er go,” Helton said Friday.

His sensitive side began to show when he punctuated this stunning streak that now stands at 21 wins in 22 games.

Colorado, which opens the World Series on Wednesday at Cleveland or Boston, was down to its last strike on Sept. 18 when Helton hit a two-run homer to give the Rockies a 9-8 win and a doubleheader sweep over the Dodgers. Helton sprinted around the bases, flipped his helmet high into the air and dived into a pile of jubilant teammates awaiting him at home plate.

Helton was standing on first when Matt Holliday scraped his chin through the batter’s box with the winning run in the bottom of the 13th to beat San Diego in the N.L. wild-card tiebreaker, sending Helton to his first postseason after 1,578 games. Helton hugged everybody in sight.

When the Rockies won their division series against Philadelphia, the Gold Glove first baseman hopped around like a lad who had just knocked down the bee hive on a dare.

His best moment came when he caught the final out in the NLCS against Arizona and thrust his arms into the air, tilted his head up to the black night sky and let loose with a guttural yell, a decade of dejection floating off his shoulders.