Friday’s Game Report: Rockies 9, Cardinals 4
By Rob Rains
If there was an opponent that Adam Wainwright could have picked in his attempt to win his 199th career game, it probably would have been the Colorado Rockies.
Wainwright went into his start on Friday night at Busch Stadium with a 12-1 career record against the Rockies and a 1.38 ERA, having allowed only seven runs in 59 2/3 innings at home, with his only loss coming more than 14 years ago on June 5, 2009.
In a season where virtually nothing has gone Wainwright’s way, however, this game was just the latest example.
By the time he threw his last pitch of the night, in the third inning, the Rockies had scored seven runs and were on their way to the series-opening win.
Not only did the Rockies beat Wainwright, they also snapped a 12-game losing streak to the Cardinals at Busch Stadum that dated back to 2018. It was only their second win in 20 games in St. Louis since 2016.
It also was the Cardinals first loss in a game in which they hit at least three home runs and had at least 14 hits since May 24, 2012, a 10-9 loss against Philadelphia, snapping a streak of 50 consecutive wins in those games.
Here is how Friday night’s game broke down:
At the plate: Nolan Gorman hit two solo home runs, his 23rd and 24th of the season, as part of a three-hit night. The Cardinals also got a solo home run from Nolan Arenado, his 23rd of the year, and he also added a pair of singles … Paul Goldschmidt’s single off the second base bag drove in the other Cardinals’ run … The top four hitters in their lineup – Lars Nootbaar, Goldschmidt, Gorman and Arenado – were a combined 10-of-20 but the team was only 1-of-7 with a runner in scoring position.
On the mound: Wainwright allowed nine hits as he recorded nine outs, throwing 75 pitches. He gave up three runs in the first inning, three more in the second and one in the third … Andrew Suarez allowed only one run over 4 2/3 innings in relief, at one point setting down 11 batters in a row and 13 out of 14 … The final run for the Rockies came in the ninth off James Naile.
Key stat: Wainwright fell to 0-4 in his last six starts attempting to win his 199th career game. His last win came on June 17 at the Mets, his only win in 10 starts since May 23.
Worth noting: It was Gorman’s fourth two-homer game of the year and fifth of his career … The nine runs were the most the Rockies have scored in a game in St. Louis since 2009 … The Cardinals had been 15-3 against the Rockies in Wainwright’s 18 career appearances, including 14 starts … Ryan Helsley (right forearm strain) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment on Sunday with Double A Springfield.
Looking ahead: Steven Matz will get the start on Saturday night in the second game of the series.
Follow Rob Rains on Twitter @RobRains
