Monday’s Game Report: Cardinals 6, Rockies 2
By Rob Rains
The Cardinals were in desperate need of a well-pitched game from their starter on Monday night, and got it from Michael McGreevy,
Promoted from Memphis to start the opener of the series against the Rockies in Colorado, McGreevy scattered seven hits over seven innings to help the Cardinals snap their three-game losing streak.
He became the first Cardinals starter to throw seven innings since July 1 and only the third to earn a victory in the Cardinals’ last 16 games.
McGreevy allowed the two Colorado runs in the third inning, but the Cardinals rallied to tie the game in the fourth and took a 3-2 lead with another run in the fifth, their first lead in a span of 32 innings.
The Cardinals opened a spot for McGreevy to start by skipping Matthew Liberatore’s turn in the rotation but have not said whether he will remain with the major-league team or will return to Memphis.
Here is how Monday night’s game broke down:
At the plate: Willson Contreras got the Cardinals offense started with a leadoff homer in the fourth, his team-leading 13th of the season. Back-to-back doubles from Nolan Arenado and Masyn Winn produced the second run in the inning … Contreras drove in the go-ahead run with a two-out single in the fifth, following a double by Brendan Donovan, and in the seventh doubled and scored on a single by Jordan Walker … Pedro Pages singled in a run in the sixth and Donovan contributed a sacrifice fly … Winn joined Contreras with three of the Cardinals’ 15 hits.
On the mound: McGreevy pitched around leadoff singles in the first two innings but in the third, another leadoff single led to the two Colorado runs … McGreevy allowed only one hit from the fourth to the seventh innings, retiring 13 of the final 14 hitters he faced. McGreevy did not walk a hitter and had only one strikeout in his 91-pitch game … JoJo Romero pitched the eighth and Phil Maton the ninth.
Key stat: All seven hits allowed by McGreevy were singles. The last Cardinals starter to pitch at least seven innings, get the win, and not allow an extra-base hit at Coors Field was Adam Wainwright on May 27, 2017.
Worth noting: Alec Burleson fouled a ball off his foot in the seventh inning and was replaced in the field for the start of the next inning. Initial X-rays were said to be negative … To make room for McGreevy on the roster Gordon Graceffo was optioned to Memphis.
Up next: Erick Fedde will get the start on Tuesday night in the second game of the series. Fedde has not recorded a win in 11 starts since May 9.
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