The St. Louis Cardinals and Colorado Rockies played the finale of their 3-game weekend series on Sunday. The Cardinals, looking for the series sweep after winning game one 5-0 and game two 9-8.
Coming into Mother’s Day, the Cardinals owned a 20-14 record and sat atop the NL Central. After taking the first 2-game of this series against the Rockies, they would look for the sweep with veteran Adam Wainwright on the mound.
The Rockies have struggled a bit this year, coming into Sunday’s game, and they sat at the bottom of the NL West with a 12-21 record. They would look to bounce back and avoid the series sweep with German Marquez on the mound.
Vintage Wainwright
Sunday’s game against the Rockies was Adam Wainwright 400th pitching appearance for the Cardinals.
Wainwright has been historically great against the Colorado Rockies. He is 10-1 all-time against them with just a 1.56 ERA. Wainwright would continue his dominance against them on Sunday.
The Colorado Rockies mustered just 3 hits against Wainwright. Charlie Blackmon mustarded a 2nd-inning double, Raimel Tapia singled in the 7th, and Ryan McMahon singled in the 9th. Wainwright struck out 5 Rockies and walked just 3.
Cardinal’s manager, Mike Shildt, was met by boos from the St. Louis crowd when he visited the mound after the 9th-inning single by McMahon. Shildt was then cheered when he allowed Wainwright to stay on the mound and attempt to finish the game. Shildt would pull Wainwright with one out in the 9th after he walked the next batter.
Ryan Hensley would enter the game with one out in the 9th and runners on first and second. After walking his first batter, Hensley forced Rockies Elias Diaz into a game-ending double play.
Wainwright earned his 169th career win after going 8 and a third innings, allowing just 3 hits and walking 3.
Arenado and Molina Ignite Offense
Neither offense was able to do much on Sunday.
Former Colorado Rockies third basemen Nolan Arenado got the scoring starting for the Cardinals. Arenado hit a 394-foot homerun to deep left field to put the Cardinals up 1-0 in the second inning.
Yadier Molina added to the Cardinal lead in the 4th. Molina hit a double to center to drive-inArenado and extend the Cardinal lead to 2-0. That would be the last run scored in the game.
German Marquez pitched a good game for the Rockies. Marquez pitched 6 innings, allowing 6 hits, 2 runs, walked 3, and struck out 6. His offense was not able to provide any help as Wainwright shut them down.
The Rockies bullpen had a good outing as well. Daniel Bard and Robert Stephenson both pitched 1 inning and allowed 1 hit each. Bard was able to strike out 1.
What’s Next?
After completing the series sweep, the Cardinals are now 21-14 and still sit atop the NL Central. They will look to bring their momentum from the sweep into their next series against division rivals the Milwaukee Brewers. The series against the Brewers will start on Tuesday in Milwaukee.
With the loss on Sunday, the Rockies record drops to 12-22, and they remain at the bottom of the NL West. They will look to bounce back in their next series against division rivals the San Diego Padres. Their series against the Padres will start on Monday.
