Mile high in Arizona
PHOENIX — This crazy run for Colorado just goes on and on. Now, Willy Taveras has joined the fun.
Taveras strolled to first base with the decisive RBI after sprinting toward the gap for a diving catch, and the Rockies kept on racing toward the World Series.
Jose Valverde walked Taveras on four pitches with the bases loaded in the 11th inning, and Colorado beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2 Friday night for a 2-0 lead in the NL championship series.
After their 19th victory in 20 games, the seemingly unstoppable Rockies headed home to Coors Field, where the series resumes Sunday night with Josh Fogg pitching against Arizona's Livan Hernandez.
"We realize there's more work to be done," Todd Helton said. "Denver is going to be a crazy place this weekend."
Two more wins would give Colorado the first pennant of its 15-season history.
"We're playing with a lot of momentum," manager Clint Hurdle said.
The Rockies recovered after blowing a ninth-inning lead with help from Taveras, playing his second game since missing 24 with a leg injury.
Leading off the 11th, pinch-hitter Ryan Spilborghs reached on an infield single. Brad Hawpe walked with one out and Jamey Carroll walked with two outs against Valverde.
Nicknamed "Big Papa," the right-hander led the majors with 47 saves but was pitching more than an inning for only the second time this season.
"Until he gives up a run, it's his game," Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said.
Valverde couldn't find the plate against Taveras, either.
"I felt so good. I'm not tired. My arm felt good," said Valverde, who threw 42 pitches. "That's my first time throwing that many pitches."
The wild-card Rockies, who swept Philadelphia in the division series, joined the 1976 Cincinnati Reds as the only NL teams to win their first five games in a postseason.
"We expect to win every game," Spilborghs said. "To come out of here with two wins is pretty much what we expected."
