Cardinals 6, Rockies 5: Bullpen can’t hold the lead—again

The Rockies were unable to hold a lead and unable to come back after giving up that lead, losing 6-5 to the Cardinals on Thursday after the start was delayed 52 minutes by rain. Up 5-2 in the sixth, Rockies pitchers gave up two-run home runs in back to back innings to give the Cardinals the lead. That, and the Rockies couldn’t manage a hit after the sixth inning, so any comeback was DOA. The Rockies are now 58-70.

Home Run Derby

The Cardinals scored in the fourth, sixth, and seventh innings. Each time these runs came via a two-run home run, first from Marcel Ozuna, then Paul DeJong, and finally old friend Dexter Fowler. Thus, despite manufacturing some runs and getting a big home run from Nolan (see below), the Rockies just couldn’t keep up.

Nolan Being More Like Nolan, Again

During the disastrous month of July, the Rockies went as Nolan Arenado went. His 45 wRC+ was his worst over a calendar month since a 51 wRC+ in July 2015 (which was also the last time he posted a wRC+ below 100 in consecutive months). But we’re starting to see more of the Nolan that put up a 200 wRC+ in May.

It was his tenth home run of the month (the most of any month since May 2016). Nolan is up to 32 home runs and 99 RBI on the season and, based on his previous output, is well on his way to a 40 HR season despite posting his lowest ISO in four years.

Márquez doesn’t cramp

Two of those aforementioned Cardinals home runs were off of German Márquez, but otherwise he had a decent bounceback start after having to leave his last one after just five innings. He went six innings, throwing 94 pitches and allowing those four runs on six hits with two walks (one of which came around to score) and four strikeouts. He left with the lead.

Up Next

Game two of the series is scheduled for a 6:15 pm MT start on Friday. Peter Lambert (2-3, 6.55 ERA) will take on another young right-hander in Jack Flaherty (7-6, 3.46 ERA).