Tuesday’s Game Report: Rockies 3, Cardinals 0
By Rob Rains
When the Cardinals got hits from their first two batters on Tuesday night against a pitcher who was 2-12 with a 5.53 ERA, it looked as if it might be a good night for the offense.
Kyle Freeland had other ideas.
Freeland got a double play and a groundout to get out of the first inning jam and then cruised into the eighth inning and the Rockies went on to shut out the Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
It was only the second shutout of the year for the Rockies, and both of them have come against the Cardinals. In 36 games since June 30, the Cardinals have been shut out eight times.
Freeland allowed only two more hits through the seventh inning and left the game after a hit and a walk in the eighth, turning the game over to the bullpen to complete the shutout.
Matthew Liberatore gave up a two-run homer to Hunter Goodman in the fourth and a leadoff walk came around to score the other Colorado run in the fifth.
The Cardinals were trying to win their third game in a row, something they have not been able to do since the end of June.
Here is how Tuesday night’s game broke down:
At the plate: The Cardinals were 0-of-9 with runners in scoring position but left only six runners on base, hitting into three double plays … Fourteen of their 27 outs came on ground balls … Singles by Victor Scott II and Brendan Donovan got the tying run to the plate in the sixth but Ivan Herrera hit into a double play and Nolan Gorman grounded out …. A single by Thomas Saggese and a walk to Scott in the eighth again brought the tying run to the plate but Victor Vodnik relieved Freeland and struck out Donovan and Herrera to end the inning.
On the mound: Liberatore allowed three hits through the first four innings, all in the fourth, but was pulled after allowing a leadoff walk and a single to open the fifth … One of the inherited runners scored against Matt Svanson, who struck out four over three innings … Jorge Alcala made his St. Louis debut and worked a 1-2-3 eighth before Ryan Fernandez struck out the side in the ninth.
Key stat: Freeland had allowed 16 home runs this season coming into the game but the Cardinals have struggled against lefthanders, hitting only 28 home runs in 1,206 at-bats.
Worth noting: For the second night in a row a Cardinals’ batter had to come out of the game early. Willson Contreras was hit by a pitch on his right foot in the fourth inning and was removed from the game before the sixth. It was the 18th time this season he has been hit by a pitch … Monday night Lars Nootbaar had to leave early after fouling a pitch off his left knee. Nootbaar was reportedly feeling better on Tuesday night but did not play … Top prospect JJ Wetherholt led off another Memphis game with a home run on Tuesday night at Charlotte.
Up next: Michael McGreevy will get the start on Wednesday in the final game of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 1:15 p.m.
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