Greatness can be defined as having the quality of being unusual or considerable in degree.
Going into the game in Atlanta on April 17, 2010, the Rockies had yet to experience anything more than a lone one-hitter during their 16-plus seasons of MLB play.
Though four more one-hitters have been added – one for each year from 2016 to 2019 – it wasn’t until Ubaldo Jiménez retired Brian McCann for the 27th out that Colorado had their very first no-hitter.
Considering the 51-year-old San Diego Padres have yet to record their first no-hitter and franchises with more years under their belt like the New York Mets (58), Milwaukee Brewers (51) and Toronto Blue Jays (42) have only one, Colorado is well ahead of the curve for a club who plays a mile above sea level.
The impressive feat was not without blunder as Jiménez had walked six batters, allowed runners in scoring position during three different innings, and even made a substantial adjustment to his delivery thanks to pitching coach Bob Apodaca.
Defensively, it was Miguel Olivo who helped squash a potential rally to end the third inning when he picked off opposing pitcher Kenshin Kawakami at second base. With a 2-0 count on Hall of Famer Chipper Jones, this forgotten play was the first gem that helped get Jiménez across the finish line.
After a shaky, yet unscathed, four innings, Jiménez faced only one batter above the minimum in the final five frames, retiring the final fifteen batters in order, including four via strikeout.
The second and most memorable defensive play came courtesy of center fielder Dexter Fowler, whose spectacular grab on a Troy Glaus blast to leadoff the seventh inning was the final hurdle in the way of history.
Old School
Jamie Moyer may not have had much left in the tank when he signed a one-year contract with Colorado, but both parties were willing to make the marriage work.
At 49-years and 150-days, Moyer set the mark for the oldest pitcher to win a big league game during Colorado’s 5-3 victory at home against the San Diego Padres on this day in 2012.
For this accomplishment, Moyer’s cap was donated to the Baseball Hall of Fame for besting Jack Quinn’s record set in 1933.
During the start, Moyer walked two and struck out one during his seven shutout innings. Somewhat remarkably, he didn’t surrender a home run, something he had done 522 times during his 25-year career, the most for any pitcher all-time.
All-Nighter
With a roster generally comprised of the same 2007 World Series squad that grinded through 21 victories in 22 games, Colorado outlasted San Diego in 22-innings at Petco Park on this day in 2008, the longest game in team history by innings.
Ending at 1:31 am and lasting six hours and 16 minutes, the 2-1 victory over the Padres was the second longest game played for both franchises by time.
Colorado recorded 73 at bats, most in a single game. Willy Taveras, Troy Tulowitzki and Todd Helton each had 10 plate appearances.
The only member of the starting eight to not record a hit was Brad Hawpe, who went 0-for-7; for San Diego, Tadahito Iguchi also missed out on adding to his hit total with an 0-for-7 night.
Fun Fact
At Mile High Stadium in 1994, Ellis Burks launched the first walk-off home run in franchise history. His 10th inning jack against Expos’ reliever Gil Heredia was only the third extra-inning homer in franchise history following two whacked by Dante Bichette during the 1993 season.
On This Day In Baseball History
In 1945, one-armed outfielder Pete Gray makes his major league debut game with the St. Louis Browns of the American League. The 30-year-old singles and handles no chances in the outfield. Gray, one of many players recruited to perform during World War II, will go on to hit .218 (51 for 254) during his only major league season.
