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 After managing just four hits off Adam Wainwright in seven innings, the Rockies rallied against St. Louis' bullpen to win for just the fourth time in 17 games.
Omar Quintanilla started the rally by singling off Kyle McClellan with one out, and Matt Holliday tripled him home. Left-hander Randy Flores came in and got Todd Helton to fly out to third before Garrett Atkins drew a walk after his high foul ball fell harmlessly to the dirt when first baseman Albert Pujols tried to bare-hand it as it drifted back into the field.
Isringhausen (1-3) came in and allowed pinch-hitter Ryan Spilborghs' run-scoring single before Iannetta, making his fourth straight start behind the plate in place of Yorvit Torrealba, sliced a triple into the right-field corner on the first pitch he saw.
Ryan Speier (1-1) picked up the win with a scoreless inning of relief, and Brian Fuentes picked up his third save in five chances. He allowed a single to Skip Schumaker leading off the ninth, then retired the next three hitters, including Pujols on a line-drive to short. He struck out Ludwick to end the game.
Until the eighth, it appeared the Rockies would go quietly thanks to Wainwright's spectacular pitching and the timely hitting of Ryan Ludwick, who homered and drove in two runs off left-hander Jeff Francis, Colorado's "ace" who is still searching for his first win.
Working through jams all night, Francis allowed three runs, all earned, on six hits in five innings. He walked five and struck out four.
Before the game, the Rockies removed struggling left-hander Mark Redman from their rotation. He's likely going to lose his job altogether because the Rockies can save $750,000 of his $1 million salary by cutting ties with him by Tuesday.
Francis isn't in any danger of losing his spot, but he's not throwing anything like the ace he was during last year's 17-win season.
Wainwright scattered four hits over seven spectacular innings, walked two and struck out three. He found himself in trouble just once, when Brad Hawpe hit a two-out double in the fourth, putting runners at second and third. Wainwright struck out Iannetta to end the threat.
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Pujols stranded seven runners by the fourth inning, grounding out with two runners on base in the first and second innings and flying out to center field in the fourth with two outs and the bases loaded, although it did take Willy Taveras' leaping grab for the Rockies to escape that jam.
And his single in the seventh means Pujols has reached base in all 35 games so far.
The Cardinals scored twice in the first inning. After Pujols' groundout put runners at second and third, Ludwick lined out to left for a sacrifice fly and Rick Ankiel added a bloop run-scoring single.
Ludwick sent a 1-2 fastball from Francis high into the left-field stands near the catwalk that runs under the scoreboard to give St. Louis a 3-0 lead in the fifth.
Right-hander Alberto Arias became the 18th pitcher Colorado has used this season, tops in the National League and tied with Texas for most in the majors.
Notes: Cardinals LHP Mark Mulder's injury rehabilitation assignment was cut short Wednesday when he was diagnosed with a mild rotator cuff strain in his left shoulder. The Cardinals plan to rest him for a week or so before reevaluating him. ... RHP Greg Reynolds, the second player selected in the 2006 draft, is expected to take Redman's spot in the rotation Sunday in San Diego.
[Associated Press; By ARNIE STAPLETON]
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