In a familiar story, the Rockies spent most of the game trailing the Cardinals — until they didn’t. Losing was, the Rockies decided, for the birds.
A ninth-inning rally found the Rockies defeating the Cards 6-5. It marks the first time since 2009 that the Rockies have won the season series between the two clubs.
Dawn chorus
The Cardinals got on the board first in the bottom of the second when a Pedro Pagés double drove in two runs.
In the fourth, the Rockies began to answer back when, after two singles,
Ezequiel Tovar added a third to plate Tyler Freeman.
It was the first run Mark McGreevy has surrendered in 12 innings, making the score 2-1 Cardinals.
Lars Nootbar got that run back in the fourth by hitting a solo home run.
At the close of the fourth, the score was 3-1 Cardinals.
The 2025 Rockies are nothing if not persistent, and they kicked off the fifth with back-to-back singles from Kyle Karros and Yanquiel Fernández. Braxton Fulford managed an RBI groundout (his 12th RBI of the season), and the score was 3-2 Cardinals.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Cardinals extended their lead with an Alex Burleson two-run homer.
But the Rockies were not finished.
Mickey Moniak led off the sixth with a home run (his 18th), and the score was 5-3.
McGreevy left the game after throwing six innings with Kyle Leahy entering in relief.
Karros greeted the reliever with a lead-off double and, repeating the action of the fourth inning, was brought home on a Fulford sacrifice (his 13th RBI — sensing a trend).
This made the score 5-4 as the Rockies refused to cede the day.
They threatened again in the eighth with a Freeman lead-off single and, two outs later, another single from Beck, but were unable to capitalize, leaving the score 5-4 Cardinals.
The Rockies entered the ninth inning looking to go ahead with the Cards’ new closer, JoJo Romero.
Karros started with a lead-off walk followed by a Brenton Doyle K.
And then Hunter Goodman pinch hit for Fulford, and guess what happened.
That’s number 25 for the Rockies All-star, making the score 6-5 Rockies.
Interim manager Warren Schaeffer brought in Victor Vodnik to close. (Remember: He got a five-out save less than 24 hours earlier.)
No worries.
With the help of a “Doyle-esque” catch from Moniak in center, Vodnik and the Rockies finished it off, winning 6-5.
“The boys keep fighting,” Schaeffer said after the game. “It was a fun series.”
Spreading their wings
Tyler Freeman, Mickey Moniak, Kyle Karros, and Hunter Goodman scored the Rockies’ runs with Braxton Fulford accounting for two RBI.
Also worth noting: Karros was on base three times and scored each time with a key walk in the ninth. Clearly, the rookie is adjusting quickly.
At the end of the day, the Rockies had 12 hits and six strikeouts.
Vultures circling
Even though Busch Stadium was familiar territory for Austin Gomber, he never really settled into a groove. The lefty’s pitch count went up quickly, and he only lasted until the end of the fifth inning.
Gomber finished the day with 5.0 innings pitched, giving up nine hits and five runs (all earned), including two home runs. He also walked one and struck out two on 85 pitches.
Peacock moments
The bullpen entered the game in the sixth inning with Nick Anderson taking the first shift.
He handled the sixth with 10 pitches, the first inning in which the Cardinals did not manage a single hit.
Following Anderson was Jaden Hill in the seventh who faced the minimum and pitched a scoreless inning.
Jimmy Herget pitched the eighth inning, retiring them in order, and Victor Vodnik nailed the save with some help from the outfield.
The bullpen faced 15 batters and did not surrender a hit.
It was an outstanding performance. (And I would include video, but MLB Film Room was less impressed with the Rockies bullpen than I was.)
“They did a great job, some guys stepping up in big situations,” Schaeffer said. “They gave us a chance, and the offense kept chipping away.”
Taking flight
The Cardinals are now 61-61 while the Rockies move to 32-88.
The Rockies are outta St. Louis and headed back to Denver.
Join us tomorrow at 6:40 pm for Game 1 when the Rockies return to Coors Field for a four-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
See you then.
(For additional information on bird metaphors, click here.)
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