Holliday back at Coors Field with Cardinals

By ARNIE STAPLETON, AP Sports Writer

DENVER (AP) -- Matt Holliday was the enemy at Coors Field for the first time on Friday night. The former Colorado Rockies slugger was hoping for another celebration at the Blake Street ballpark, this time with the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Cardinals are on the cusp of winning the NL Central. A victory in the opener of a weekend series at Colorado will send them back to the playoffs for the first time since winning the 2006 World Series. They also could clinch if the Cubs lose at San Francisco.

"I am excited. We win tonight and we have a celebration to have," Holliday said. "It's nice to be back."

Holliday spent a decade in the Rockies' organization and led Colorado to its only NL pennant in 2007. He was traded to Oakland last winter and was dealt to St. Louis this summer.

"I had a lot of good memories here," Holliday said. "We had a remarkable season and went to a World Series. You never forget the organization you came up with and the people you come up with."

Holliday was at the center of one of the enduring images from the Rockies' remarkable 21-1 run-up to their World Series appearance. He scored the winning run in Colorado's 13-inning victory over San Diego in the NL wild-card play-in game that year, dribbling his chin though the batter's box on his headfirst slide to the plate.

A photo of a dazed Holliday at the bottom of a celebratory scrum still hangs in the hallway outside Colorado's clubhouse, right across from manager Jim Tracy's office.

Holliday is leading St. Louis in hits, RBIs, batting average and slugging percentage since he was acquired from the Athletics on July 24. The Cardinals have been alone atop the Central since Aug. 7.

Holliday lunched with some of his former teammates, but he didn't get caught up in his homecoming.

"You have to deal with all of the emotions that come with coming back. But I'm here to play ball and enjoy it," he said. "I'll see some people, see some friends and at the same time hope we play well and wrap up the division."

Holliday got off to a slow start with the A's but has been great with the Cardinals.

"I was just starting to swing the bat pretty good with Oakland. It just worked out that I got traded just when I was swinging good," Holliday said. "I found my swing again."

Not only is he seeing better pitches hitting behind Albert Pujols, but he's back in his comfort zone in the National League.

Holliday is eligible for free agency after this season and is expected to get a big-money deal, but he doesn't want to ponder his future address just yet. He's got more pressing matters.

"Winning a World Series is something we didn't accomplish here," Holliday said. "I'd like to win a World Series in my career. I think we have a chance."

Pujols, for one, hopes Holliday isn't just a half-season rental.

"He's a great hitter who plays the game hard and the right way," Pujols said. "We made that move right at the right time, when we needed it. The success he's had has helped us."

The Rockies, whose lead in the NL wild-card race was 3 1/2 games heading into the series, were too busy trying to reach the playoffs to get sentimental about Holliday's return.

"The fact that he's here is fun for the fans and might be fun for him," third baseman Garrett Atkins said. "But here in the clubhouse, we're trying to win so many games and trying to get him out."

"We run into guys all the time that we used to play with. It's part of the game. It's something we do," outfielder Brad Hawpe said. "He's not a Rockie right now. That's it."

Although Holliday's big bat is certainly missed, the trade has worked out in Denver, where closer Huston Street and outfielder Carlos Gonzalez have played major roles in the Rockies' resurgence.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)