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Rockies rally, fall short in walk-off to Brewers

Colorado rallied in the ninth inning to force extra innings, but Brewers respond with walk-off win in 10th to claim Game One of the NLDS.
Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich (22) celebrates with Lorenzo Cain (6) after hitting a home run against the Colorado Rockies in the opening game of the 2018 NLDS playoff baseball series at Miller Park.(Photo: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports)

MILWAUKEE — The Brewers were all but certain they would take the first game of the NLDS. Although they did, it wasn't quite the way they thought they would.

Milwaukee was just three outs away going into the top of the ninth inning on Thursday at Miller Park, and had held the Rockies silent with just one hit in a then 2-0 game. That's when Colorado started its comeback.

The Rockies scored twice to force extra innings, but the Brewers were there to spoil their upset bid on an RBI single from Mike Moustakas in the 10th to win 3-2.

Colorado's comeback attempt was fueled by an RBI single from Charlie Blackmon that scored Gerardo Parra and a sacrifice fly from Nolan Arenado that brought home Garrett Hampson.

The Rockies have traveled 2,649 miles in the past five days, playing four games in four cities against four different teams -- the first time that's been done since 1922.

Over that stretch, Colorado lost the chance at its first NL West pennant, but won the single-elimination Wild Card game to earn its first full postseason series since 2009. That led to Thursday, when it began the best-of-five series against Milwaukee at Miller Park.

Scoring in Game One began in the bottom of the third inning when NL MVP candidate Christian Yelich blasted Antonio Senzatela's 85 mph change-up 413 feet for a two-run home run that also scored Lorenzo Cain.

Yelich is the leader in 14 different stat categories for the NL, including batting average, slugging percentage and total bases.

The Rockies, on the other hand, struggled with being no-hit into the fifth frame. Carlos Gonzalez finally changed that with a two-out triple to right field, but Ian Desmond grounded out in the ensuing at-bat and was unable to bring him home.

Colorado starter Senzatela pitched five innings, giving up three hits, two earned runs and two walks with only one strikeout.

The Rockies and Brewers return for Game 2 of the NLDS at 2:15 p.m. Friday. The game will be broadcast on FS1 (DirecTV channel 219, XFINITY/Comcast channel 777).

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