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 Arenado's two-run homer sparked Colorado's offense and the Rockies
rallied to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-3 on Tuesday night.
Jorge De La Rosa tossed seven strong innings to tie Aaron Cook for
the most wins in franchise history and second DJ LeMahieu had three
hits in the game, including a tiebreaking double in the seventh that
helped Colorado win after a 1-hour, 7-minute rain delay.
Shortstop Jhonny Peralta and center fielder Peter Bourjos homered
for St. Louis (38-21). Wacha (8-2) allowed four runs on eight hits
tied a career high with 10 strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.
It was Wacha's first loss on the road this season, and it came in a
game where he was sharp.
"I felt good the whole night," the starter said. "I just left some
pitches over the middle of the plate and they didn't miss them. I've
got to do a better job of making better pitches in those
situations."
De La Rosa (3-2) allowed two runs on three hits and two walks while
striking out eight to win his second consecutive start. He now has
72 career wins with the Rockies, tying him with Cook atop the
franchise list.
"It feels really good to be there to be No. 1 right tied now with
Aaron Cook," De La Rosa said. "He was a really good pitcher for this
franchise and I'm glad to be there."
Closer John Axford pitched a scoreless ninth for his 11th save.
Wacha used his changeup to keep Colorado's hitters off balance and
rack up the most strikeouts since April 23, 2014, against the New
York Mets. He was on his way to his seventh road win after Peralta's
10th homer -- which went off the facing of the second deck in right
field above the Rockies bullpen -- gave the Cardinals a 2-0 lead in
the sixth.
However, in the bottom of the inning, Arenado followed left fielder
Carlos Gonzalez's single with a home run on an 0-1 to deep left
field to tie it at 2-all. It was the third baseman's 15th of the
season.
"The first pitch he threw me inside and I thought that was the pitch
to hit," Arenado said. "The next one was up in the zone and I was
able to get on top of it. It's not where he wanted to throw but he
was able to take advantage."
The homer gave the Colorado bench some life.
"It didn't feel like we were getting to Wacha at all until Nolan
came up with a big hit," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said.
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The Rockies (27-30) took the lead in the seventh. Pinch hitter Wilin
Rosario singled with one out and scored on a double by LeMahieu.
Wacha intentionally walked shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, and Gonzalez
followed with an RBI single to left off reliever Randy Choate.
Bourjos homered off lefty Boone Logan to lead off the eighth to cut
the deficit to a run. The Cardinals loaded the bases with two outs,
but reliever Scott Oberg got catcher Yadier Molina to fly out to end
the threat.
"Two on nobody out, and opportunity to create some damage,"
Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "That's a big spot for us.
Those are the ones we've got to get the big hits."
St. Louis managed just a pair of walks by first baseman Mark
Reynolds in the first four innings before getting to De La Rosa in
the fifth. Right fielder Randal Grichuk, who led off with a single,
was caught in a rundown that allowed left fielder Jon Jay to get to
second. Jay scored on Bourjos' single up the middle for the first
run of the game.
De La Rosa got out of the inning when he retired Wacha on a
grounder. During the at-bat, a Rockies trainer came out to look at
De La Rosa's pitching hand. The lefty, bothered by a swollen finger
in his past few starts, stayed in the game.
NOTES: The Cardinals placed LF Matt Holliday on the 15-day disabled
list after an MRI revealed a Grade 2 strain of his right quadriceps.
Holliday was injured chasing down a flyball in the second inning of
Monday's loss to the Rockies. St. Louis recalled RHP Miguel
Socolovich from Triple-A. ... The Rockies recalled OF Kyle Parker
from Triple-A Albuquerque and optioned RHP Eddie Butler to the
Isotopes. Parker was hitting .275 with seven home runs and 33 RBIs
in the minors. ... Manager Mike Matheny's son, Tate, an outfielder,
was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the fourth round of the draft
Tuesday. ... Colorado OF Corey Dickerson (plantar fasciitis)
rejoined the team. He has been on the 15-day DL since May 19 and
could be activated soon.
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