Rockies rock on

The Colorado Rockies advanced to the World Series for the first time in franchise history Monday night with a 6-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Rockies have completed two series sweeps in the postseason, and have now won 21 of their last 22 games overall.

Continuing to play important roles in the Rockies' remarkable late-season surge have been several former Tri-City Dust Devils:

Jeff Francis, a Dust Devil in 2002, has won both of his postseason starts as the ace of the Rockies' pitching staff. He most recently out-dueled the Diamondbacks' Brandon Webb in Game One of the NLCS, giving up just one run in 6 2/3 innings. Francis is expected to start Game One of the World Series.

Manny Corpas (2003) has recorded saves in five of the Rockies' seven playoff victories, including a four-out save in Monday's clincher. His ERA in the postseason is 1.04.

Seth Smith (2004) had a key two-out, two-RBI double in Monday's decisive fourth inning, giving the Rockies a 3-2 lead that would grow to 6-2 after a Matt Holliday 3-run home run.

Finally, Ryan Spilborghs (2002) led off the eleventh inning of the Game Two victory over Arizona with a pinch-hit infield single and scored the go-ahead run in the Rockies' 3-2 victory.

The World Series begins Wednesday October 24th in either Boston or Cleveland. The Rockies will host Games Three, Four, and Five (if necessary) beginning October 27th.

Fans in the Tri-Cities that want to see the next generation of Rockies postseason heroes can be a part of the action every day of the 2008 season by calling the Dust Devils ticket office at (509) 544-8789, or stop by the Dust Devils Stadium box office to receive ticket package information.