There may have never been a crazier game in Rockies history than their 18-17 victory over the Marlins on Friday night, when they overcame a team-record nine-run deficit. But it wasn't the first wild Independence Day game in the Mile High City.

Matt Holliday had been a part of two wild ones before Friday, when he drove in five runs on a solo shot and a grand slam.

The previous biggest deficit the Rockies had ever overcome was eight, on three occasions, the last being July 4, 2002. The Tigers led, 8-0, going into the bottom of the fifth. But the Rockies scored six in the fifth and four in the sixth, holding on for a 10-8 victory.

Last season, the Rockies knocked 20 hits and beat the Mets, 17-7.

"Apparently, if people came to see fireworks, they got more than just the postgame fireworks," Holliday said. "I think they got their money's worth."

This July 4 craziness preceded the Rockies' arrival in 1993.

The Triple-A Denver Bears entered the ninth inning trailing the Omaha Royals, 14-7, in 1979. The Bears scored early in the inning and were down to their last out. They scored eight more runs in the inning, capping their rally with a Jim Cox three-run homer for a 16-14 victory.

One Royals outfielder who suffered the comeback was Clint Hurdle.

Now the Rockies' manager, Hurdle was asked in the glow of victory about that game. He had to think for a bit.

"I was there," Hurdle said. "Wow. Look it up. I think I was there. We had it all wrapped up. We were packing the bats, the whole nine yards. ... That's foggy. That was a long time ago.

"But this was incredible. It really was."

Incredible?

Or maybe that's the way it is on Independence Day in Denver.