2007 NL Division Series Game 5
One slow roller past third base turned a pennant race into a nightmare.
Few moments in Chicago sports history cut as deep as Game 5 of the 2007 National League Division Series. It was the decisive clincher where the Colorado Rockies completed a historic comeback to eliminate the Cubs, ending a season that began with high hopes of breaking the 'Curse of the Billy Goat.' The game took place at Coors Field in Denver, marking the first time the Cubs had reached the Division Series since 1984 only to fall just short of advancing.
- Series Result
- Colorado Rockies won 3-2
- Final Score
- Rockies 5, Cubs 4
- Venue
- Coors Field, Denver
- Date
- October 7, 2007
- Key Moment
- Matt Holliday's walk-off single in the bottom of the 9th
Lore & Background
However, the series shifted dramatically when it moved back to Denver. The Rockies, fueled by their own improbable run to the playoffs, refused to go quietly. In Game 5, the Cubs held a 4-3 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth inning. With two outs and runners on base, the stage was set for a Cubs victory that would have sent them to face the Arizona Diamondbacks or Philadelphia Phillies in the next round. Instead, history took a cruel turn.
In Their Own Story
The air in Denver was thin, but the tension was thick enough to choke on. The scoreboard read 4-3, bottom of the ninth, two outs. Every Cubs fan in Wrigleyville and every Rockies supporter in Colorado held their breath as Matt Holliday stepped into the batter's box. The pitcher wound up, delivered a slider, and Holliday connected with a line drive that cut through the infield grass. It hit the ground just fair, rolling past the diving third baseman. As the ball trickled toward the wall, the Rockies runners crossed home plate one by one. The roar from the Rockies dugout was deafening, while the silence from the Cubs bench was absolute. The dream of October 2007 evaporated in a single swing.
Reader's Guide
The occasion was Game 5 of the National League Division Series between the Chicago Cubs and the Colorado Rockies. The series had been deadlocked at two games apiece, making this winner-take-all contest. The Cubs entered the bottom of the ninth inning with a one-run lead, needing just three outs to win the series and advance to the NLCS.
The loss was compounded by the fact that the Cubs had dominated much of the regular season and had taken a 2-1 series lead before losing their home-field advantage in Denver. This match is remembered as the moment the 'Curse of the Billy Goat' reasserted itself with brutal efficiency. It highlighted the fragility of baseball playoffs, where a single play can erase months of success. For the Cubs organization and its fanbase, it became another chapter in the long narrative of near-misses, serving as a painful reminder that in baseball, hope is often just one inning away from despair.
Did You Know?
- This loss extended the franchise's playoff series win drought that would not end until their breakthrough in 2016.
- The Rockies became the first team to win five consecutive elimination games (including regular season tie-breakers) to reach the World Series that year.
- Matt Holliday was named the NLDS MVP for his performance, including the game-winning hit.
- The Cubs held a 4-3 lead with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, one of the most famous 'what if' moments in franchise history.