Friday’s Game Report: Cardinals 3, Rockies 2
By Rob Rains
The Cardinals were reminded on Friday night that when you get hits is sometimes more important than how many hits you get.
They gave up 10 hits to the Rockies while collecting only four from their offense, but three of the four came at the right time to secure a victory in the opener of a three-game series at Busch Stadium.
Despite their 10 hits, the Rockies were hitless in 10 at-bats with a runner in scoring position, and that proved to be the difference in the game.
One of the hits for the Cardinals was a home run from Ivan Herrera in the third inning which produced what turned out to be the winning run.
The win allowed the Cardinals to get back to the .500 mark for the season with a 58-58 record.
Here is how Friday night’s game broke down:
At the plate: Jimmy Crooks led off the second inning with a single and went to third on a double by Masyn Winn. Both runners then scored on back-to-back sacrifice flies from Nathan Church and Bryan Torres … Herrera’s 13th homer of the season came up with one out in the third and put the Cardinals up 3-1 … They had only one more hit over the final five innings, an infield single by Jordan Walker in the fifth … They loaded the bases without a hit In the sixth on two walks and a bit batter, but JJ Wetherholt fouled out to end the inning.
On the mound: Kyle Leahy worked the first five innings and picked up the victory, allowing both Colorado runs on eight hits. He did not walk a batter and struck out eight, stranding four runners in scoring position … Four relievers combined to shut out the Rockies over the final four innings. Riley O’Brien got a double play after a leadoff walk in the ninth, then a groundout to finish off the win with his 28th save.
Key stat: This was the eighth consecutive start for Leahy allowing two or fewer runs. In those games he has allowed a combined seven runs in 42 1/3 innings, an ERA of 1.49, with 40 strikeouts and only nine walks.
Worth noting: Walker was back in the lineup after sitting out the final two games in New York because of inflammation in his right knee. Walker has not homered since July 9, a span of 22 games and 95 plate appearances … Outfielder Everson Pereira is expected to join the Cardinals on Saturday. He was claimed off waivers on Thursday after he had been designated for assignment by the White Sox. The Cardinals will have to make a roster move to open a spot on their 26-man roster … Joshua Baez hit his 33rd homer run of the season for Memphis on Friday night.
Up next: Matthew Liberatore will get the start on Saturday night in the second game of the series.
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