MLB Betting: Rockies Sweep Diamondbacks, Head to World Series

Matt Holliday's three-run bomb launches the Rockies into the World Series. (AP Images)

From worst to the World Series.

The Colorado Rockies pulled off one of the most dramatic one-season turnarounds in major league history Monday night when they swept their way to the National League pennant. MVP candidate Matt Holliday ripped a three-run home run that launched the Rockies to a 6-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 4 of the NL Championship Series in Denver.

The win was Colorado's 21st in 22 games. Not since the 1935 Chicago Cubs has a team accomplished such a feat after Sept. 1, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The Rockies, the NL's wild-card entrant, were -160 moneyline favorites (meaning a winning wager of $160 would net a $100 profit). The betting total went over 9.5 runs as Colorado swept the best-of-seven series.

Colorado took control of the game in the fourth inning when they scored all six of their runs. Pinch-hitter Seth Smith doubled home Brad Hawpe and Troy Tulowitzki then scored on a single by Kaz Matsui. Holliday followed with his three-run shot that staked the Rockies to a 6-1 lead and sent the Coors Field fans into a frenzy that still hasn't abated.

The Diamondbacks got the tying run to the plate in the eighth inning after Chris Snyder hit a three-run homer to trim the lead to 6-4. But closer Manuel Corpas came on to strike out Tony Clark then stifled a threat in the ninth for the save, sending Colorado to the World Series for the first time in its history.

The Rockies are the fifth team to go from last place one season to the World Series the next. Of those teams, only the 1991 Minnesota Twins won it all. The Rockies' World Series odds have dropped to 5/4 as they prepare for a week off between games. The World Series is scheduled to start Wednesday, Oct. 24. Colorado will face the winner of the Cleveland-Boston ALCS, which the Indians lead 2-1.

For ALCS odds and World Series odds, the Bodog Sportsbook is your betting source.