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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Rockies reach playoffs

Tracy’s torrid Colorado can still win West title

Arnie Stapleton Associated Press

DENVER – It’s a Rocktober redux for the Colorado Rockies, who are back in the playoffs after a one-year hiatus.

“It stings,” Troy Tulowitzki said as he squinted away the tears that were flushing the champagne out of his eyes. “But I’ve never forgotten ’07 and it’s great to experience it again. It never gets old.”

Aaron Cook pitched four-hit ball over eight spectacular innings in his second start since missing a month with a sore shoulder, and Garrett Atkins drove in three runs for the Rockies in a 9-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday.

The Rockies’ fourth straight victory eliminated Atlanta, their final pursuer, from contention for the N.L. wild card. Colorado can still catch the Dodgers for the N.L. West title if the Rockies sweep a weekend series in Los Angeles.

“We’re in,” Tulowitzki said. “Anything can happen once you’re in.”

The Dodgers, who have lost four straight, were off Thursday and watched their division lead over the Rockies get sliced to two games with three left.

As the Rockies rejoiced behind the mound after the final out, fans broke into a chant of “Beat L.A.! Beat L.A!” while fireworks crackled through a cloudless sky.

“We’re celebrating right now. We’ll worry about that tomorrow,” Todd Helton said as his teammates sprayed him with beer and champagne.

On the other side of the clubhouse, manager Jim Tracy was getting soaked by players serenading him with “Boom Boom Pow” by the Black Eyed Peas.

“I’ve never had a better feeling than this in 33 years in professional baseball,” Tracy said.

After trading slugger Matt Holliday last fall for closer Huston Street and outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, the Rockies got off to a stumbling start. They were 18-28 on May 29 when Tracy took over after general manager Dan O’Dowd fired longtime manager Clint Hurdle.

When O’Dowd offered Tracy the job, he told him, “I just want to see them play better.”

Under Tracy, the Rockies are 73-40, and on Sept. 1 they took over sole possession of the lead in the wild-card race, which they trailed by 9 1/2 games at midsummer.

The Rockies, who were 12 games under .500 on June 3, turned their season around and rejoined the pennant race with sensational starting pitching, a brilliant bullpen, a mixture of clutch situational and power hitting, and deft managerial and front-office moves.