Paulsen proves to be clutch asset off the bench
First baseman tallies his second walk-off hit of the season on Monday
DENVER -- Ben Paulsen knew the drill this time, but he still couldn't slither away.
Just moments after his second career walk-off single lifted the Rockies to a 5-4 comeback win over Arizona on Monday at Coors Field, Paulsen saw the Gatorade and water shower coming. But Charlie Blackmon and Brandon Barnes still managed to soak the Rockies' hero in a scene of jubilation.
With the bases loaded and Colorado having already pushed two runs across in the final frame, the pinch-hitter Paulsen quickly fell behind two strikes to Arizona reliever Matt Reynolds. The left-hander had come with a pair of fastballs and tried to sneak in a third, but Paulsen ripped the last heater hard up the middle.
Video: ARI@COL: Paulsen singles to win it for the Rockies
Nolan Arenado and DJ LeMahieu scored easily, giving the Rockies their fourth win this season when trailing after eight innings.
"We've done that all year," Paulsen said. "We come back in the ninth, and we're always good for two or three [runs]. It almost seems like when the closer comes in, we kind of step our game up, and everybody hones in. Our lineup is dangerous."
After a slow few weeks in the middle of the month, Paulsen ended August in style. Over his last six games, he's batting .400 (8-for-20) with six RBIs.
In addition, Paulsen is hitting .303 this season between the seventh and ninth inning, one of the many reasons why Rockies manager Walt Weiss selected him off the bench in such a crucial spot.
"Benny has got a lot of big hits for us, a lot of big RBIs," Weiss said. "So I liked him in that situation, and he did it again."
Video: TEX@COL: Paulsen wins the game with RBI single in 9th
Pauslen knocked the game-winner on July 20, when he beat the Texas Rangers with a walk-off single into the left-center gap. Paulsen said having been there before didn't necessarily help him relax any more, but he knew what to do in such a pivotal situation.
"You just want to slow everything down," Paulsen said. "Just try to see strikes and put good swings on them."