Rockies’ roll keeps picking up steam

PHILADELPHIA -- The message on the visiting clubhouse bulletin board best explained Colorado’s crusade: “Not done!”

After moving to within one victory of reaching the National League championship series, the Rockies were more concerned Thursday with moving forward than dwelling on their 16th victory in the last 17 games.

“We’re not going to let up,” first baseman Todd Helton said after the Rockies applied constant pressure in a 10-5 victory at Philadelphia to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five division series. “We’re going to go after them. We’re not going to slow down. No reason to now, especially now that we’re up 2-0.”

The Rockies could be excused for pausing to reflect on their latest achievements as the series shifts Saturday to Denver for Game 3.

Kaz Matsui highlighted a three-for-five performance with a grand slam in the fourth inning that gave the Rockies the lead for good. Troy Tulowitzki and Matt Holliday homered in the first, and the Rockies added four runs in the sixth as Yorvit Torrealba hit a two-run double and Matsui an RBI triple.

Matsui’s slam mirrored the remarkable guile of the Rockies. Matsui resurrected his career with Colorado after failing to live up to expectations with the New York Mets, who signed him to a three-year, $20.1-million contract before the 2004 season. He moved to the leadoff spot in mid-September after Willy Taveras suffered a leg injury.

“This was like the best, so exciting and so glad I could hit it,” Matsui, speaking through an interpreter, said of his slam.

Mindful that the Phillies had erased the Mets’ seven-game lead with 17 games left to win the NL East, the Rockies were careful not to declare the division series over. After all, they were 18-27 before embarking on a seven-game winning streak. A month later they lost eight in a row and fell to 38-42 on July 29. They didn’t surpass the .500 mark for good until July 28.

“It has been about pure, simple execution and appreciating the ride along the way,” Manager Clint Hurdle said. “One of the traps you fall into is not enjoying the ride, and we’re enjoying the ride up, down, sideways. . . . This streak, I’ve never been involved in anything like this in my life athletically.”