NL Wild Card Game: In Real Life

The D-backs outslugged the Rockies, 11-8, in the National League Wild Card Game.
We were on the scene in and around Chase Field with highlights, Statcast™ info, analysis, tweets and more.

8:44 p.m. MST: Triples are wild
The D-backs became the second team in postseason history to triple at least four times in a game, matching the Boston Americans -- who tripled five times twice in 1903 -- with A.J. Pollock's triple into the right-center gap. The three-base hit brought home two against Rockies closer Greg Holland in the bottom of the eighth inning. Jeff Mathis followed with a run-scoring bunt single to give the D-backs an 11-7 lead.

8:15 p.m. MST: Rox go back-to-back
D-backs reliever Archie Bradley, who hit a two-run triple the previous half-inning, surrendered back-to-back home runs to Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story to cut Arizona's lead to 8-7 in the eighth inning. No current Rockies player had ever hit a homer off Bradley, but the solo shots were each scalded at more than 104 mph off the bat, according to Statcast™. It was the second time in club history the Rockies launched back-to-back homers in the postseason. Bradley had allowed just one homer in his last 47 games dating back to May 31. Pat Valaika put the tying run in scoring position, but Bradley escaped with the lead intact.

8:03 p.m. MST: Bradley has a blast
Arizona's third triple of the night was its most spectacular. With a pair of runners on and two outs, D-backs manager Torey Lovullo elected to keep Bradley in to hit for himself in the seventh of a one-run game. Bradley, who went 1-for-4 at the plate this year, tripled into the gap to bring home a pair of runs and build an 8-5 lead. The D-backs became the first team to triple thrice in a game since the Phillies in Game 3 of the 1993 World Series. Bradley became the first pitcher since Dontrelle Willis in Game 4 of the 2003 NL Division Series to triple in a game, and the first relief pitcher to ever hit a postseason triple. More >>

7:47 p.m. MST: Blackmon bunts
Rockies manager Bud Black made a gutsy call with a runner on third and one out in the seventh inning, electing to have NL MVP candidate Charlie Blackmon push a bunt to bring home a run and cut the D-backs' lead to 6-5. Blackmon executed it perfectly, and nearly beat the throw with a home-to-first time of 3.61 seconds -- his fastest time since Statcast™ began in 2015.

6:52 p.m. MST: Ketel boiling hot
Ketel Marte's second triple of the night made him the first player since the Phillies' Mariano Duncan in 1993 to do so in a postseason game. Marte also became the first player in postseason history to triple from both sides of the plate in the same game. After recording the fastest triple of the season for the D-backs in his second at-bat, Marte topped it in the fourth inning by going from home to third base in 11.1 seconds, according to Statcast™. He was stranded at third, however, and the D-backs' lead stayed at 6-4. More >>

6:44 p.m. MST: Old friends
The Rockies broke through against Zack Greinke in the fourth inning, cutting Arizona's lead to 6-4 with the aid of two former D-backs. Gerardo Parra's one-out single snapped a 1-for-28 skid to open the scoring for Colorado. Mark Reynolds, the only player on either side when these clubs last squared off in the postseason in 2007, followed with an RBI groundout. Greinke's former teammate with Milwaukee, Jonathan Lucroy, doubled in a run. Colorado finished with four runs, knocking Greinke out of the game.

6:18 p.m. MST: Descalso burns former team
Lovullo called it a "no-brainer" to start former World Series champion Daniel Descalso at second base tonight. It paid off in the third inning. Descalso, who played for Colorado from 2015-16, turned on an 88-mph cutter from Tyler Anderson and drove it a projected 403 feet at 100.2 mph off the bat, according to Statcast™. The two-run blast gave the D-backs a 6-0 lead.

5:54 p.m. MST: Speedy Marte
Marte knocked Jon Gray out of the game with one out in the second inning with a standup triple to the gap in right-center. Carlos González couldn't make the grab on the triple, which had a catch probability of 6 percent, according to Statcast™. With an average sprint speed of 29.1 feet/second, Marte was able to get from first to third base in 11.26 seconds -- the fastest triple recorded by a D-backs player in 2017.

5:22 p.m. MST: Gold dinger
Paul Goldschmidt opens the game with a bang, snapping an 0-for-11 career mark against Gray by hitting a three-run homer to left. The shot, which had an exit velocity of 99.8 mph according to Statcast™, was a moonshot that hung in the air for 6 seconds with a launch angle of 39 degrees before touching down a projected 384 feet from home plate. More >>

4:54 p.m. MST: On the field
The D-backs are making their sixth trip to the postseason, first since 2011.

4:49 p.m. MST: Return of Rocktober
The Rockies are introduced at Chase Field for their first postseason game since 2009.

4:31 p.m. MST: Taking it in
Zack Greinke walks onto the field for warmups.

4:17 p.m. MST: Fighting words
A D-backs fan makes a bold claim concerning J.D. Martinez and Colorado's mascot.

4:01 MST: Tip of the cap
Gerardo Parra is in the zone during batting practice.

3:28 p.m. MST: Ready for the spotlight
Carlos Gonzalez gets interviewed by ESPN's Eduardo Perez.

3:26 p.m. MST: Going, going, gone
Nolan Arenado takes his cuts during batting practice.

3:09 p.m. MST: Come on in!
Eager fans erupt into cheers as they enter Chase Field for the WC Game.

2:32 p.m. MST: Pitchers who rake
Greinke will try to get it done on the mound and at the plate tonight.

2:10 p.m. MST: Practice makes perfect
Dr. Jesse McGuire plays his trumpet during sound check for the national anthem.

2:01 p.m. MST: Purple haze
The Rockies arrive at Chase Field looking stylish. We see you, Ian Desmond.

1:52 p.m. MST: Out of left field
Rockies manager Bud Black explains that Parra over Desmond in tonight's lineup came down in part to matchup numbers against Greinke.

1:19 p.m. MST: Exuding confidence
D-backs rookie reliever Jimmy Sherfy has only 11 career big league appearances, but his confidence convinced manager Torey Lovullo to include him on the 25-man roster.

1:09 p.m. MST: Civic pride
Baxter the Bobcat visits Phoenix mayor Greg Stanton, who went with a more casual look at work.

1:01 p.m. MST: Line 'em up
The Rockies and D-backs revealed their lineups. NL Most Valuable Player Award candidates Arenado, Charlie Blackmon and Paul Goldschmidt are -- wait for it -- starting.

12:47 p.m. MST: Loose as a goose
Archie Bradley called this a "winning vibe that I hope we can continue for years to come."

12:02 p.m. MST: Is it in the cards?
The Rockies will send out Arenado, Jon Gray and Blackmon in the WC Game.

11:50 a.m. MST: Ready for prime time
Chase Field is decorated for its first postseason since 2011.


10:56 a.m. MST: Early dismissal
The D-backs created this note for their fans so they have enough time to get in a postseason mindset.
Tweet from @Dbacks: In case you need some help getting out of work/school/life commitments this afternoon. #OurSeason pic.twitter.com/xZrbi6eXPl
10:07 a.m. MST: Another day of sun
The grounds crew preps Chase Field, which will close its retractable roof for tonight's game, as Arizona front-office members make the local media rounds.