What's the best way to hit for the cycle? Just ask Carlos Gonzalez

I turned on MLB Network at the right time last night.

The network, which carries cameras in each ballpark, flipped to the Rockies game at exactly the perfect moment. I watched closely and witnessed history...

In last night's Colorado Rockies vs. Chicago Cubs match-up, Carlos Gonzalez came to the plate to lead-off in the bottom of the 9th inning, game tied 5-5, the pressure building.

But the pressure wasn't just to win the game.

As "CarGo" stepped into the box, he was one hit shy of the cycle. He had singled, doubled, and tripled in three trips to the plate (3-3) but was missing the big one. The big fly.

So yeah, you could say there was just some pressure on the 24 year-old outfielder.

Of course Rockies fans wanted to see Gonzalez hit for the cycle, but fans also wanted to see what was more important, which was winning the game.

Luckily the fans, and myself, got to see both live.

On the first pitch of the 9th inning from Cubs' reliever Sean Marshall, Gonzalez unloaded on a 93 mph hanging inside fastball which shot, like a cannon, into the upper right field deck at Coors Field. The fans went insane. Pandemonium in the Rocky Mountains. Not only had Gonzalez hit for the cycle, but he had won the game, also capping a 4-4 night.

"I put a really good swing on the ball," Gonzalez said. "The pitch helped me. It was 90-something, inside, and I put it right on the barrel."

"That was unbelievable," Gonzalez said. "It was a great feeling. All the crowd screaming, it's a moment you just want to pass out because you don't know what to do. Just try to get with my teammates and celebrate."

"He's a good hitter," Marshall said. "He's locked in right now. He's putting good swings on bad pitches and good swings on good pitches. He's probably the guy in the lineup that we didn't want to beat us. I went in and challenged him and he beat me."

For Gonzalez, he joined the club of four cycles this season, as well as hitting the sixth cycle in Colorado Rockies history. It was his first walk-off home run and his fourth home run in as many games.

Gonzalez, who was acquired by the Oakland Athletics from the Arizona Diamondbacks prior to 2008 in the Dan Haren trade, and was then traded to the Colorado Rockies for Matt Holliday prior to 2009, has blossomed into the player most thought he would become. This season has been a career-year for Gonzalez, as he's hitting .321/.350/.554 with 21 home runs and 68 RBIs in 92 games, a career-high in each category.

"I heard everyone saying I was going to do it," Gonzalez said. "You just believe in yourself. I guess it was meant to be. It was my night, it was the Rockies' night."

You can't do it much better than that. A storybook ending.

So, who are you gonna call when you want to know the best way to hit for the cycle?

CarGo.

NL Colorado Rockies' Ubaldo Jimenez and AL Tampa Bay Rays' David Price to start All-Star Game

The long awaited All-Star starting pitcher decision has been made.

National League Starting Pitcher: Ubaldo Jimenez RHP, Colorado Rockies
Charlie Manuel, Manager of the Philadelphia Phillies and the National League for the All-Star Game, selected right handed pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez of the Colorado Rockies to start for the National League All-Stars. Jimenez, who has made for one of the best stories of the first half of the season so far, is 15-1 with a 2.20 ERA this season, and has thrown a no-hitter that came on April 17th against the Atlanta Braves. Jimenez, 26, leads the major leagues in wins, and is fifth in the league in ERA. A somewhat surprising decision, many believed that Manuel would select Josh Johnson, a right handed pitcher from the Florida Marlins to start the game, due to his 9-3 record and major league leading 1.70 ERA.

When asked about his decision, Manuel responded that Johnson "is a real talented guy, but this guy," Manuel said while seated next to Jimenez at the news conference today, "has won 15 games and threw a no-hitter. It was a tough decision, but he's my guy." (USA Today)

"It's a huge honor for me just to be here," said Jimenez. "I'm going to cherish the moment tomorrow. It's an honor to be in the clubhouse with all these stars."

American League Starting Pitcher: David Price LHP, Tampa Bay Rays
Opposing Jimenez and the NL team will be the young ace of the Tampa Bay Rays, left handed pitcher David Price. Price, 24, has also made for quite the story of the first half, helping lead a young Rays team to second place in the fearsome AL East, just two games behind the New York Yankees. While many thought that Yankees and American Leauge All-Star Manager Joe Girardi would select his own pitcher, lefty Andy Pettitte (11-2, 2.70), Girardi went with Price. Price, who is 12-4 with a 2.42 ERA on the season, has pitched himself to be the long searched for ace of the Tampa Bay Rays. The first overall pick in the 2007 draft, Price pitched his way through the minor leagues in one season, making his long awaited debut in 2008 and helping the Rays to the World Series. Price ranks third in wins and is seventh in ERA among major leaguers. Price is the youngest pitcher to start an All-Star Game since Dwight Gooden of the Mets started for the NL at age 23 in 1988. Price is also the youngest pitcher to start for the AL since Bret Saberhagen of the Royals, who was also 23 in 1987. He's also the first #1 overall pick to start an All-Star Game.

"It's a definitely an honor," Price stated. "It hasn't set in yet. I'm very happy to be here."
(Seattle Post Intelligencer)