Thursday’s Game Report: Rockies 3, Cardinals 2
By Rob Rains
The Cardinals began a stretch of 16 consecutive games on Thursday night against teams with a .500 or worse record, a good time for them to get hot and make a move in the NL Central.
It did not start off the way they wanted.
A bad inning from Sonny Gray led to two runs that carried the Rockies to the win over the Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
The Rockies came into the opener of the four-game series 19 games under .500 and with a minus 97 run differential, the first of five consecutive opponents who combined entered play on Thursday night 45 games below .500 and with a run differential of minus 243 runs.
The Cardinals’ undoing came in the fifth inning, when the Rockies took advantage of three walks by Gray, one hit, three stolen bases and two wild pitches to get the runs they needed for the win.
The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for the Cardinals at home and was only their second loss at Busch Stadium in their last nine games.
Here is how Thursday night’s game broke down:
At the plate: The Cardinals scored both of their runs in the sixth inning, when they bunched four of their eight hits. Michael Siani had an RBI single and the second run scored on a Colorado throwing error … In the seventh, Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Gorman hit back-to-back fly balls that were caught at the wall in center and left … Earlier, Matt Carpenter was robbed of a home run by right fielder Michael Toglia … The Cardinals drew six walks in the game but none of them were able to come around to score … They finished the game with just one hit in seven at-bats with a runner in scoring position and left 11 runners on base.
On the mound: Gray did not get through the fifth inning, his shortest start of the season. He struck out five and only allowed two hits, but also walked a season-high four batters, two of which scored … Combined, relievers Matthew Liberatore, John King and Chris Roycroft allowed only two hits and one walk over the final 4 1/3 innings, striking out four.
Key stat: Since Willson Contreras was hurt on May 7, Cardinals catchers Ivan Herrera and Pedro Pages have thrown out a combined five of 27 runners trying to steal. Herrera has allowed 19 stolen bases while throwing out three runners.
Worth noting: After the series against the Rockies, the Cardinals will play three games each against the Pirates, Cubs, Marlins and Giants. Only the Cubs were a .500 team going into Thursday night’s games. The Cardinals next game against a team with a winning record will be on June 24 against the Braves … Two rehabbing Cardinals pitchers had mixed results on Thursday night pitching for Memphis at Omaha. Starter Steven Matz threw 24 pitches in his two scoreless innings, allowing only one walk while striking out two. Giovanny Gallegos, however, gave up a walk and a single before servomg up a long three-run home run … The Cardinals’ top pitching prospect, Tink Hence, came out of his start on Wednesday night for Springfield after only two innings but it was because of cramping and is not believed to be serious.
Looking ahead: Lance Lynn will get the start on Friday night in the second game of the series.
Follow Rob Rains on Twitter @RobRains
