Blackmon first to record cycle in Game 162

DENVER -- Rockies center fielder Charlie Blackmon's cycle during Sunday's 12-0 victory over the Nationals was the ninth in Rockies history and the record 18th at Coors Field.
He became the first player to hit for the cycle in the 162nd game of the season.
Colorado needed to win to maintain a tie with the Dodgers, who defeated the Giants, 15-0, atop the National League West. The two results mean the Rockies and Los Angeles will meet in a Game 163 to determine the division title and second NL Wild Card today (2 p.m. MT on ESPN). But Blackmon paid no attention to the scoreboard numbers telling the story from San Francisco.
• Players who have hit for the cycle
In fact, he didn't look until after accepting the standing ovation following his eighth-inning double off Nats righty Kyle McGowin that completed the feat.

"I didn't look until I came out of the game, because I didn't want that to affect me," Blackmon said. "I felt it was really important for us to win, take care of our business. We'll worry about that later."
Blackmon lashed a triple in the first inning and homered for two runs in the third off Nats starter Erick Fedde. Blackmon added a fifth-inning infield single off Tim Collins, and completed the cycle with his double before being replaced by Raimel Tapia.

"I didn't realize until maybe the seventh inning that I was just a double away, and I'd been pretty close before," Blackmon said. "You've got to get pretty lucky to have that go down the right way."
The cycle was the Rockies' first since June 18, 2017, when Nolan Arenado completed his against the Giants with a walk-off home run.

The 18th cycle at Coors Field, which opened in 1995, surpassed Fenway Park, which opened in 1912, for the most in MLB history at any park.
It also was the first cycle against the Nationals.