163...

........games, one more than standard, and it still wasn't enough...yes, it took 4 extra innings, nearly almost 5hrs game time, for the game to come to its amazing conclusion, all while Austin and I took it in from 5284 feet above sea level---yes, our seats were 2 rows from the very top of Coors Field, and 2 rows behind the mile high level seats which are purple in color(the rest are green), but the view still incredible on a perfect night for baseball...

The crowd was electric..it mirrored a college football atmosphere--every single fan stretched in the 7th inning, and NEVER SAT DOWN again...yes, the permanent 7th inning stretch at the ballpark...

Entering the 13th inning, the Padres stunned us with a 2 run homer-- you could have heard a mouse fart..we realized we would have to face their Hall of Famer closer in the bottom of the inning, but no one left..this team has been resilient and deserved every last fan to remain in support...

Down by two runs, it happened so quick....in a matter of 5 pitches, 2 doubles and a triple, the game was tied...our man Holliday on 3rd and only needs a sacrifice fly, the one area the Rox have been inept at all year...shockingly, a line drive to right field, the runner barreling in from 3rd, does a face plant at home plate---- S A F E !!! Eruption, 20 DPD officers on their motorcycles with their emergency lights activated form a '2-wheel barricade' along the foul lines, then fireworks !! In the playoffs for the first time in 12 years........

I have seen on TV the Broncos win 2 Super Bowls, the Boys win 5, the Avalanche win 2 Stanley Cups, but to be at a major league venue with everything on the line with every pitch and the drama that unfolded amongst 50, 000 radical fans, nothing compares...

The 50K fans, all strangers when the game began, left as family...See the 5hr ball game in its 5 minute version here .......

The best part of this will be the father-son memory for years to come..."Dad, remember when the Rockies"..."Austin, remember when the Rockies"....this game is etched in our memory..........