The Rockies got beat by their own game Monday night. Wait, scratch that, they got beat by the type of game interim manager Warren Schaeffer wants them to play.
The Cardinals, aggressive on the bases, productive in the clutch, and solid on the mound, cruised to a 6-2 win at Coors Field. They drilled Colorado pitching for 15 hits and were 7 for 18 with runners in scoring position.
The Rockies were limited to eight hits and were 1 for 5 with runners in scoring position.
Colorado reached the season’s century mark with a 24-76 record, becoming the first team since the 1935 Boston Braves (25-75) to lose at least 75 of their first 100 decisions.
St. Louis right-hander Michael McGreevy was recalled from Triple-A Memphis for Monday’s start. Pitching for just the second time at Coors, he didn’t overpower the Rockies, striking out just one. And although he gave up seven hits over a season-high seven innings, he walked none and never let the game spin out of control.
“You have to tip your hat to him, I thought he pitched really well,” Schaeffer said. “He changed speeds, he worked in and out.”
Rockies lefty Austin Gomber wasn’t nearly as effective, giving up five runs on 11 hits over 5 2/3 innings. He struck out a season-high six and walked none. His ERA sits at 6.03 after seven starts. At Coors Field, his ERA is 7.52.
“I thought I had really good stuff, probably the best stuff I’ve had all year,” Gomber said. “My breaking ball had good break, but I was just throwing the wrong pitch at the wrong time, too many times. It’s kind of the story of what I feel like I’ve been doing all year. Just getting beat in spots with a pitch I probably shouldn’t throw.”
Colorado took a short-lived 2-0 lead in the third. Second baseman Adael Amador, playing for the injured Thairo Estrada, led off with a single to left. Mickey Moniak followed with a single to center fielder Victor Scott II, who booted the ball for an error, allowing Amador to score and Moniak to take second. Hunter Goodman drove in Moniak with a single.
Moniak hit 2 for 4 and extended his on-base streak to 14 games, the second-longest streak of his career. He’s slashing .435/.469/.783 during the streak.
But after the third inning, the Rockies’ offense went dry.
St. Louis tied the game in the fourth. Wilson Contreras’ 443-foot leadoff homer off Gomber started it off. Back-to-back doubles by Nolan Arenado and Masyn Winn made it a 2-2 ballgame. Arenado, the former Rockies star, was 2 for 4 with a walk and a strikeout.
St. Louis took a 3-2 lead in the fifth on a one-out double by Brendan Donovan and a first-pitch RBI single by Contreras. With first base open, Gomber said he should have walked Contreras.
The Cardinals nickled and dimed Gomber for two more runs in the sixth, extending the lead to 5-2. Arenado led off with a sharp single to left and then, unexpectedly, stole second. Jordan Walker beat an infield roller to third baseman Ryan McMahon, moving Arenado to third. Pedro Pages’ lazy single to right field scored Arenado. Donovan’s sacrifice fly to center scored Walker.
The Cardinals’ lead grew to 6-2 in the seventh on Walker’s RBI, bases-loaded single off reliever Juan Mejia.
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