Oct. 4 at Philadelphia: Rockies 10, Phillies 5

Clint Hurdle decides to pinch hit for starter Franklin Morales in the fourth inning. Pinch-hitter Seth Smith squibs a single on the infield grass, and Kaz Matsui follows with a grand slam off Kyle Kendrick. “We believe we’re going to win every game,” Hurdle says. “We’ve been playing in the loser’s bracket for a month.”

Oct. 6 at Denver: Rockies 2, Phillies 1

Not even a blackout at Coors Field could stop the Rockies from streaking into the NLCS. “I was like, ’No, we’ve got to play this game! I’m feeling too good,”’ Ubaldo Jimenez says about the lights going out for 14 minutes in the second inning. Jimenez stymies the Phillies for 6 1-3 innings, allowing just a run and three hits. Pinch-hitter Jeff Baker’s two-out single in the eighth off J.C. Romero wins it.

Oct. 11 at Phoenix: Rockies 5, Diamondbacks 1

Brandon Webb tries to beat the Rockies for the second time during their otherwise unbeatable streak, but it’s Jeff Francis who shines. Rowdy fans disrupt the game by throwing bottles on the field after Justin Upton is called out for interference after sliding hard into Kaz Matsui at second base, but nothing can stop the Rockies, who win for the 18th time in 19 games. Webb pitches well, but loses. “It was just bloops over short and second,” he says. “It was tough luck. There’s really nothing you can do.”

Oct. 12 at Phoenix: Rockies 3, Diamondbacks 2, 11 innings

Willy Taveras makes a diving catch in the seventh inning to preserve a lead, then walks with the bases loaded against closer Jose Valverde in the 11th to drive in the winning run. Manny Corpas recovers after blowing the lead in the ninth — and it could have been worse; Stephen Drew gets caught off second base when he doesn’t realize he was called safe. He could have been the winning run.

Oct. 14 at Denver: Rockies 4, Diamondbacks 1

Catcher Yorvit Torrealba, often overlooked in the Rockies’ starting lineup, hits a three-run homer off Livan Hernandez and Josh Fogg does the rest, pitching six strong innings in the cold rain to give Colorado a 3-0 lead in the series. “One pitch, one bad pitch all night,” laments Arizona catcher Miguel Montero.

Oct. 15 at Denver: Rockies 6, Diamondbacks 4

For the second time in Franklin Morales’ two postseason starts, Clint Hurdle pinch hits for the pitcher in the fourth inning with Seth Smith. This time, Smith’s blooper lands in short left for a two-run double. And again, Kaz Matsui follows with a run-scoring hit, this time a single. Matt Holliday provides the major blow with a three-run homer, and the Rockies advance to the World Series for the first time in their 15-season history.

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