"Rockies closer Huston Street was standing at his locker, being very forthright about a very painful ninth inning Monday. General manager Dan O'Dowd interrupted the give-and-take, hugged Street and said, "We wouldn't have been here without you. You did a hell of a job."

The Rockies and, in particular, Street weren't expecting words of solace. Not after a stunning three-run rally in the eighth gave the Rockies a 4-2 lead in Game 4 of the National League Division Series. Not with Street, who went 35-for-37 in save opportunities during the regular season, taking the mound and this NLDS seemingly headed back to Citizens Bank Park for a winner-take-all fifth game.

Deflating ninth innings were rare for the Rockies this year, the kind where the game disintegrates into a shambles and certain victory is replaced by bitter heartbreak. That anguish has hovered over the Phillies, whether it's Brad Lidge blowing 11 saves en route to a 7.21 ERA this year after his season of perfection in 2008 or Mitch Williams following a thrill-a-minute path, sometimes to a save and sometimes not.

The Rockies went 45-0 at home during the 2009 regular season when leading after eight innings. They had parlayed an Edwin Moses leap by Dexter Fowler over the left shoulder of second baseman Chase Utley into a three-run rally that included a game-tying single by pinch-hitter Jason Giambi and a two-run double by Yorvit Torrealba before turning the game over to Street.

"You think you have the game in your hands, and they drop three on you," said Troy Tulowitzki who struck out on five pitches from Lidge, all sliders, to end the game with runners at first and second. "But we had an opportunity at the end; that's all you can ask for. But it does make it a little tougher."

Street's ordeal began with one out, when Jimmy Rollins reached on an infield single. Shane Victorino hit into a fielder's choice, took second on defensive indifference and Street went to 3-2 on Utley before throwing a changeup that missed for ball four.

"I'd thrown him all fastballs," Street said. "So I thought a change of pace was in order. I've been controlling my changeup so well all day that it really felt like a good pitch to go with. I had a base open. Utley's a guy you respect up there and (Ryan) Howard on deck _ pick your poison, really.""