The LAB Rats do it again!

Different night, different player. Last At-Bat. Just call these Rockies the LAB Rats, because they have perfected this thing at Coors Field like no other team and took it on the road last night. It's almost as if they should just spot the other team the first 18 outs and see what they can do with only 9.

August 18 @Washington--Solo homers by Carlos Gonzalez in the 8th and Clint Barmes in the 9th inning breaks and tie and Rockies hold on to win 4-3

August 23 San Francisco--Lincecum no-hits the Rockies for 5 and the Rockies score 2 in the 7th and 1 in the 8th to win 4-2. Seth Smith hits 2-run homer in 7th to win it.

August 24 San Francisco--Giants score 3 in the top of the 14th, but the Rockies come back with 5 and win on a Ryan Spilborghs Grand Slam.

August 25 Los Angeles--Rockies score single runs in the 7th and 8th innings on a Barmes HR and a Troy Tulowitzki Double, but allow the Dodgers to tie it up in the 9th. Tulowitzki hits a bases loaded single to win it in the 10th.

Those were the August Appetizers for September's Main Course:

September 2 New York--Jason Giambi's bases loaded single drives in two runs and breaks a tie, Yorvit Torrealba follows with a run scoring single.

September 4 Arizona--Rockies trail 4-2 before Smith doubles in 2 in the 7th and Giambi singles in the winning run in the 8th.

September 5 Arizona--Rockies lead early, but still Smith has a solo Homer in the 8th inning to give the Rockies a 4-1 win.

September 6 Arizona--Rockies win easily 13-5 but it's noteworthy that they scored 6 of their runs in the 7th inning.

September 7 Cincinnati--Down 3-1 in the 7th, the Rockies score two in the 7th on a Todd Helton Sac Fly and a Tulowitzki hit, before Ian Stewart hits a solo HR in the 8th to win it.

September 8 Cincinnati--Gonzalez Sac fly in the 8th, adds an insurance run as the Rockies win 3-1.

September 9 Cincinnati--Rockies have comfortable 2-0 lead and Jason Hammel is cruising before things come undone in the 8th. Reds tie it up and then take the lead on a Scott Rolen solo HR. In the bottom of the 9th against ace closer Francisco Cordero, with one out, Clint Barmes hits a double to left. Giambi is intentionally walked and Spillborghs walks when Cordero can't locate the plate again. Carlos Gonzalez stikes out on 4 pitches, and Seth Smith fouls off four pitches, before hitting the ball sharply towards 2nd. Brandon Phillips dives for the ball and partially smothers it allowing the tieing run to score. Jason Marquis running for Giambi, doesn't stop and scores when Phillips chases down the ball and falls down trying to make a throw. Rockies win 4-3.

September 11 @San Diego--Jorge De La Rosa pitches a magnificent game, but a bases-loaded walk in the first inning looks like it may do him in. The only real threat was in the 7th, with runners on 2nd and 3rd with only one out, but don't score. In the top of the 9th against ace closer Heath Bell, Helton draws a walk, before Tulowitzki lines out. Hawpe singles to the left side and Jason Giambi is walked without seeing a strike. Matt Murton strikes out for the 2nd out. Torrealba gets a reprieve on a checked swing with two strikes, and strokes the next pitch to deep center field scoring 3 runs. Paul Phillips follows with a base hit, and the Rockies win 4-1.

So there you have it, the Rockies take these things down to the very last strike now and still pull them out.

But for us fans, the Rockies could give our hearts a little rest before the playoffs, if they would just win a few of these games just a little bit earlier.

LEAVING CALIFORNIA WITH THE LEAD: Last night's win and the Giants and Marlins losses, guarantees the Rockies will head to Arizona next Thursday with the Wild Card lead. If they leave with only a half-game lead, there are other problems, but for right now, the Rockies can continue to concentrate on winning in San Diego and trying to catch the Dodgers, without worrying about what's behind them.