9-25-2013
Red Sox vs. Rockies
Game 2 of series
My 72nd and final game of the year, 82nd with road trip and 85 the Springs.
Tonight besides being the final home game of the year, It was Todd Helton’s final home game of his career. So most of this post will be a tribute to Todd and his 17 year career.
Dinger got into the act and had a goatee just like Todd’s
This is the last time we will see Todd’s Name in the introductions.
Todd and one of his daughters during the National Anthem
One of Todd’s first tips of the hats of the night before the pre-game ceremony.
Todd’s oldest daughter threw out the first pitch to her Dad!
The Rockies presented Todd with a horse for his retirement. The Horse named A “Tru Bustamove,”
Brad Hawpe and Aaron Cook were both at Coors for Todd’s final game Todd is hugging Hawpe in this photo and Aaron Cook is standing with his back to the camera in the green plaid.
Another tip of the cap after the pre-game ceremony and he headed back to the dugout.
He than brought out the score cards to the umpires. He is shaking hands with Joe West in the photo.
For the last time as an active player Todd takes the field at first base.
Jhoulys Chacin was the starting pitcher this game her he is pitching in the first inning. Here he is throwing to Jacoby Ellsbury, he would lead-off with a single.
Troy Tulowitzki with a try to turn a double play on a hit by Dustin Pedroia getting Shane Victorino out at second.
David Ortiz hit a 2 run double to score Ellsbury and Pedroia for a 2 to 0 Red Sox Lead.
After the Red Sox scored a 3rd run the last out of the inning was a hit back to Chacin to get Bill Middlebrook out at first.
John Lackey was the starting pitcher for the Red Sox. He put the Rockies down in order in the first.
With 1 out in the second Todd Helton came to the Plate once again with a tip of the cap.
on the third pitch of the at bat….
….he hit one more over the auxiliary in right for his 369th and last home run of his career.
He was only able to watch as the ball sailed out into the crowd. Over the years I don’t know how many times I have seen him hit a home run or how many photos of may have taken, But all of them were watched in amazement how easy he made it look to hit a home run in a big league park.
Taking the turn at second after his home run.
With 2 outs in the inning and Corey Dickerson on base hit a double scoring the Rockies second run of the inning. (3-2) Sox
The Red Sox would score a run in the 3rd to take a 4-2 lead. Todd watches as Michael Cuddyer batting in the 3rd inning. Cuddy would strike out in the inning, Todd would come up for his second at bat of the night.
Todd would hit a fly ball to deep left-center.
That was caught by Daniel Nava for the second out of the inning.
Charlie Blackmon would score to tie the game at 4. That was Todd’s 1405 RBI of his career.
Before the 4th inning I headed up to the upper deck because I wanted to get photos of the field with the tributes to Todd.
The game did go on while I was up there and here is Chacin throwing a pitch with a runner on second.
From up here you were able to see the Giant 17 cut into the field and the purple ones painted on the base lines.
Shane Victorino hit a 3 run home run in the 4th to give the Red Sox a 7-4 lead.
On my way down I took the stairs that bring you to the home plate entrance and got a photo of the starting line up photos.
With Michael Cuddyer on base Todd hit a double in the 5th inning. His 589th of his career he is 17th on the all time doubles list. A very appropriate spot to end his career. Cuddy also scored and was Todd’s 3rd RBI of the night and 1406 of his career.
Todd standing at second while Lackey pitches to Nolan Arenado.
Matt Belilse pitched the 7th inning for the Rockies he was the 4th Rockies pitcher of the night. Chacin Pitched only 4 innings giving up 7 runs on 9 hits, walking 2 striking out 3. Rob Scahill pitched the 5th and Drew Pomeranz the 6th.
Ex-Rockie Franklin Morales pitched for the Red Sox in the last 2 outs of the 7th inning.
In the inning Todd took his last at bat at Coors. He did strike out but hey it is baseball and he is a lifetime .316 hitter and he already had a home run and a double in this game, what else could you ask for than a .500 night for your last home game. I don’t know about you but I think I will remember seeing his last home run and his last double especially with that huge slide into second!
Roy Oswalt pitched the 8th for the Rockies, Just like the rest of the Roy Oswalt experiments have gone he was a disaster giving up 5 runs, 4 hits and 1 walk in the inning. Hope this is the last time he will be on this field as a Rockie, Hey Roy thanks for the Misery!!! Just a bit bitter he is the only Rockies to play this year that did not sign my team project this year and his 8.90 ERA helped the team in absolutely no way.
As the Rockies took the field in the 9th inning and it was the last time Todd would take first base at Coors his Daughters came out to the field.
They removed first base which was being changed each inning. These bases did have a special 17 Jewel on the side of them.
Another tip of the cap before the start of his last inning.
Rex Brother pitched for the mound. As you may have noticed in the last few photo is I got a little help from my friends to watch the last inning from behind the dugout.
it was amazing to watch Todd just taking in the experience as he was playing his last inning. Between almost every pitcher he would just look around and take in the crowd and the experience of being on a MLB field.
The Rockies try to get Todd one last out at 1st before he leaves, but John McDonald was safe But Quintin Berry was the second out at second. The inning ended with Brandon Snyder striking out.
Ryan Dempster pitched the 9th inning for the Red Sox. Ryan Wheeler lead the inning with a single, then Charlie Blackmon hit into a double play.
Josh Rutledge ended the game and the Rockies season at Coors by flying out to left field.
The Red Sox as they did 3 times this year celebrated a win against the Rockies 2 times in Fenway and 1 here.
After the game it was time for one last farewell to Todd Helton. It started with him followed by the team walking around the field and giving high-fives to the fans.
Here is most of the team when they were in left field.
Think Diane and the group in center field said it best with there last sign!
After walking around the field Todd stood at home as his teammates and a few Red Sox passed him giving him hugs and shaking his hand.
He than did interviews with roots sports Drew Goodman and MLB networks and former Rockies side line reporter Alana Rizzo.
Immediately after the players left the field the Coors MLB authenticator and Aaron who handles all the game used items at Coors label and tag the buckets of dirt taken from the first base area.
This was a very emotional night at a game. At times I think there was a not a single dry eye in the house and if you did not get emotional
on this night you should have not been there.
So that is it for the 2013 season. I would like to thank everyone who makes these game so great Win or Lose the friends who I sit with others who came to games with me, the ushers and staff that make Coors really feel like my home away from home for the 6 months of the year. To my family and friends that make this all possible. Most of all the reader of this blog who keep me doing this game after game day after day and mile after mile when I am on a road trip with out you I would have not made the top 50 in MLBlogs for most of the season and being 29th for the month of August.
Thanks to Todd Helton for giving his all every time he stepped on the field. For 17 Years of baseball. Just wish I was here for more of them.
For the last time this years that is it for this one
Thanks and see you around.
