Cardinals blast three two-run HRs to comeback from two separate deficits, take game one from Rockies, 6-5
The Rockies haven’t really had the greatest of luck when coming into St. Louis in recent history, and tonight probably made things a bit worse. Mik and Márquez would battle things out, Mik still struggling his last few starts.
The Rox got on the board first with a two run top of the 2nd after a 19-pitch, 1-2-3 1st inning from Mik. Murphy, Tapia, and McMahon would lead the inning off with back-to-back-to-back singles, McMahon’s allowing him and Tapia to take an extra base with the throwing error from Bader getting the ball back into DeJong.
Márquez held the Cardinals bats silent the first three frames, striking out three, while working two 1-2-3 innings. He’d throw 40 pitches thru the first 3 innings.
The bats would finally crack Márquez in the bottom of the 4th– courtesy of a Swags two-run bomb into Big __ac land to tie the game 2-2.
But that whole runs given back thing followed Mik into the top of the 5th. With two outs and runners on the corners (Márquez and Blackmon), Mik would serve up a three-run tater to Nolan Arenado into the Rox bullpen to make it 5-2 Rockies. Mik battled it out and gutted one more quick, 10 pitch inning in the 6th before turning things over to the pen.
Pauly Deez, who by the way made one of the coolest plays I’ve seen from a SS this season, showing off his vertical to start a double play on Arenado to end the 3rd, would make things interesting in the bottom of the 6th. After Swags worked a four-pitch walk with one out, Deez would crank his 23rd HR of the season over the wall in LCF to bring the Cards within a run, 5-4.
Dom Leone, recalled today from Memphis (Fernandez optioned to Memphis), would work an easy five-pitch inning in the 7th, getting Daza to fly out and Blackmon and Story to ground out.
Almonte would take over for Márquez in the 7th, immediately surrendering a leadoff walk to Carp (pinch-hitting for Leone), followed by a two-run, go ahead shot from DEX, lined into the Cards pen for the 6-5 lead.
Gio and Miller would combine to complete a 1-2-3 8th, throwing 10 combined pitches to get Arenado, Murphy, and Tapia.
Tsunami would come in for the 9th, looking for his team leading 15th save. And of course he’d make it interesting for us, because why the hell not? Carlos would get a big first out, striking out McMahon on a filthy changeup. But then he’d turn around and give up back-to-back walks to Desmond and Wolters. Alonso would pinch-hit, only to be the second strikeout victim of the inning, swinging and missing at another fantastic change from Carlos. Blackmon would be the final hope, grounding out to Deez to secure the Cardinals 6-5 victory.
Leone picked up his 1st win of the season on the day he was recalled from AAA and Carlos snagged his team leading 15th save.
Jack Flaherty (7-6, 3.46) looks to keep his string of dominant starts rolling tomorrow night, taking on Peter Lambert (2-3, 6.55). First pitch 7:15pm c/t.
Cheers, Stew