|
 "Curl up and hide, or embrace the challenge," he said.
As his sixth inning at-bat showed, Piscotty picked the latter.
Rifling a two-out, two-run double off the center field wall,
Piscotty kick-started a game-breaking five-run sixth inning as St.
Louis blanked the Colorado Rockies 7-0 at Busch Stadium.
His hit was followed by an RBI single from second baseman Kolten
Wong and a towering two-run homer from shortstop Jhonny Peralta,
turning a 2-0 nailbiter into a laugher for the team with MLB's best
record at 66-37.
It was a 180-degree turn from Thursday night's 9-8 win, in which the
Cardinals needed three ninth inning runs. There was carryover from
that comeback, as St. Louis rapped out 14 straight hits for the
second straight game and enjoyed its biggest inning in more than a
month.
"We had positive at-bats in key spots," Cardinals manager Mike
Matheny said of Thursday night's ending, "and I think we fed off
that tonight."
While the offense stayed in a groove, St. Louis starter Michael
Wacha regained his rhythm after three straight shaky starts in which
he gave up 13 runs. Throwing 70 of his 102 pitches for strikes,
Wacha (12-4) limited the potent Colorado offense to four hits and a
walk in seven innings, fanning seven.
Wacha said he worked on his mechanics between starts, feeling that
his body and arm weren't in sync during his delivery.
"I was on time for the most part tonight," he said. "I'm always
trying to get better and work down in the zone. I felt good."
"You saw why he's one of the best pitchers in the league," Rockies
manager Walt Weiss said of Wacha. "He has a very good fastball and a
very good changeup."
Colorado (43-58) got just one runner to third in Wacha's stint and
managed just one hit after reliever Aaron Laffey led off the third
with a single.
Laffey came in after starter Kyle Kendrick (4-12) experienced right
elbow inflammation while allowing a leadoff homer to third baseman
Matt Carpenter and a sacrifice fly to right fielder Jason Heyward in
the first inning.
Kendrick said after the game that he's going for an MRI when the
team returns home Monday and that he's pitched through pain for two
months.
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The Rockies also found out after the game that starting left fielder
Corey Dickerson is headed to the 15-day disabled list with broken
ribs suffered in Thursday night's game as he dove in vain to catch
Heyward's fifth inning line drive.
"It's kind of heartbreaking," said Dickerson, who's been bothered by
a foot injury this season. "I love to play and compete, and I've had
some of the craziest injuries. I want to be out there and help the
guys win. This stinks."
There was little foul about the Cardinals' play as they maintained
their 5 1/2-game lead in the National League Central over
Pittsburgh.
Piscotty's mental toughness helped them achieve their latest win.
"The game will find you," he said. "I had a feeling it would come
back to me again, and I'm glad it did."
NOTES: St. Louis traded for bullpen help Friday, acquiring RHP
Jonathan Broxton from Milwaukee for minor league OF Malik Collymore.
Broxton was 1-2 with a 5.89 ERA in 40 games with the Brewers. ...
Colorado LHP Chris Rusin, who belted his first MLB homer Thursday
night in the fourth inning, pinch-hit in the fifth and laid down a
sacrifice bunt. ... To make room for Broxton on the 40-man roster,
the Cardinals designated RHP Marcus Hatley for assignment. They also
optioned RHP Miguel Socolovich to Triple-A Memphis.
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