Cardinals 4, Rockies 1: Colorado strikes out 16 times in 6th consecutive loss

Cardinals starting pitcher Marco Gonzales and five relievers combined to strike out 16 Rockies batters in St. Louis' sweep-clinching 4-1 win over Colorado on Sunday.

Gonzales, a product of Rocky Mountain High School in Ft. Collins, navigated around four hits and four walks to allow only one run in 5⅔ innings. His nine strikeouts had a lot to do with that. Two of those Ks were particularly crucial; the Rockies had just their second lead of the road trip and had a runner on third with only one out in the top of the 2nd but Gonzales punched out Jordan Lyles and Josh Rutledge to end the threat. Naturally, the Cards picked up three runs an inning later and never looked back.

Lyles earned a quality start by going six innings and allowing only three runs, but the 23-year-old right-hander was hit hard throughout the day. He gave up nine hits, including a home run, en route to his third loss of 2014.

Jhonny Peralta provided the big blow with a two-run homer in the third. Matt Holliday did some more damage, going 2-for-4 with an RBI double. The former Rockie finished the series with five hits -- four of the extra-base variety -- and five RBI.

Brandon Barnes drove in the Rockies' lone run and finished 2-for-4 with a double. He also struck out twice, bringing his season total to 94 Ks (and only 14 walks) in 286 plate appearances. That is ... heinous.

Fortunately for the Rockies, a merciful six-game road trip that saw them go 0-6 while being outscored, 21-8, is over. Unfortunately, the first-place Dodgers, who have scored 21 runs in their last 18 innings, are next on the schedule.

Source: FanGraphs