Blackmon, dad have a catch before homer No. 227

DENVER -- Charlie Blackmon found the one-pitch game of catch at Coors Field with his father on Thursday afternoon was even better than his memory of playing catch growing up.

Before Blackmon began his star-studded 14-season career in the Rockies’ outfield -- a career that will end in three games -- he was an aspiring pitcher, who became a struggling collegiate pitcher, who talked his way into becoming one of the Majors’ best hitters.

Myron Blackmon -- with his wife, Ellen Blackmon, also on the mound -- foreshadowed a golden day Thursday with a perfect strike. The Rockies’ 10-8 victory over the Cardinals included Charlie Blackmon’s 227th career homer, and a five-run rally in the bottom of the eighth.

“I will say that he threw a better pitch than I was throwing the last time he was catching,” said Charlie Blackmon, who hoped mom would throw, but she declined. “He would sometimes put on some shin guards and wear a mask. It’s been awhile since we’ve been on the program where he would get back there and catch me.”

Added Myron Blackmon: “We’ve been out there taking family pictures and things like that, so it was not the first time. It was certainly the first time we did anything like that. I thought it was awesome.”

The homer tied Blackmon for fifth in Rockies history with Carlos González.

Mom could see the comeback coming.

The Rockies trailed, 8-5, when Sam Hilliard and Hunter Goodman struck out against Cards righty Ryan Fernandez. But as Jake Cave entered the box, Blackmon -- three hitters away -- was at the top step of the dugout, intently studying Fernandez.

No one knew the inning would get to him, but Blackmon knew he was in what he called “a Coors Field grinder.”

Ellen Blackmon knew her son would be ready.

“He’s just always been good at baseball, and he’s always 100% into it,” she said.

Cave tripled, Aaron Schunk singled and Blackmon drew an eight-pitch walk to keep it all going for Ezequiel Tovar’s two-run double and RBI doubles from Ryan McMahon and Michael Toglia.

Bud Black is cherishing the last days of Blackmon’s eight years playing for him.

“I can’t stop thinking about it, because he’s been one of my favorite players,” Black said. "I’ve been in this game 46 years as a player, pseudo-executive, then pitching coach and manager. He’s one of the good ones.”

Blackmon cherished matching -- and having the chance to pass -- González. Black said Blackmon will start all three games of the season-ending weekend series with the Dodgers.

“You start talking about some really impressive players when you start comparing yourself to guys like ‘CarGo,’” Blackmon said. “So I’m proud to be on that list.”

It’s more than just an icon playing to the end. The victory was the Rockies’ 61st, a season after they went 59-103 for the franchise’s first 100-loss season. They will need to win two of the final three games against the postseason-bound Dodgers to avoid losing 100 again.

“It’s on everybody’s mind,” McMahon said. “We’ve all talked about it. It’s not a great spot to be in, but it’s the spot we’re in. So we might as well make the most.”

And they watch Blackmon doing what he needs to play these games.

“It’s funny,” McMahon said, “We were talking about it today -- I feel he’s more locked in on his routine the last couple of days since he announced his retirement.”

Thursday was the kind of Coors Field day that Rockies should cherish because, as Blackmon noted, “We’ve seen that game before, over and over.”

Rockies left fielder Nolan Jones was charged with two errors, and Cards right fielder Jordan Walker misplayed a ball hit directly at him. The teams combined for 26 hits, and each used five pitchers.

Pedro Pagés’ two-run homer off Angel Chivilli in the seventh inning could have been enough for the Rockies to figure enough was enough on an unseasonably hot day. Even with the best of intentions, late afternoons can be tough on hitters at Coors Field.

“This time of year, late day games, it’s almost impossible to see in the box,” Blackmon said. “Shadows are bad. The batter’s eye has shadows and contrasts. So to have the biggest at-bats of the game in the toughest situation was really impressive for our guys.”