Colorado Rockies: The Good and Bad from Thursday's Loss

Earlier in the week, we discussed how the Colorado Rockies seemed to have a new mantra when it came to pitching. Unfortunately, also as we discussed, everyone has to do his job on the mound to make the mantra work. That simply wasn’t the case in the final game of a three-game road set with the St. Louis Cardinals.

After holding the Cardinals to one run in the series-opening win and two runs the following night in a 2-0 defeat, St. Louis exploded for 13 runs in the finale, cruising to a 13-7 decision over the Rockies at Busch Stadium.

Unlike Wednesday night’s matchup, the Rockies offense showed up on Thursday, but it couldn’t outslug the Cardinals, who jumped on starter Jon Gray for nine runs in 3.1 innings of work. Gray, who had looked dominant in his three previous outings, reverted back to mere mortal along the banks of the Mississippi River. In his three previous starts, he had allowed 10 hits. On Thursday, he surrendered eight. In his three previous starts, he had walked just four batters. On Thursday, he walked three.

It was a recipe for disaster against a Cardinals team that was still trying to find its momentum heading into the series. They seemed to find it quickly on Thursday night, belting 12 hits.

Three up

Trevor Story helped Colorado try to keep up with the Cardinals, going 3-for-5 at the plate with three RBI.

Daniel Descalso also impressed in a rare start, making a splash against his former team with a 2-for-4 night at the plate.

Justin Miller, making his first appearance on the mound since May 9, pitched two hitless and scoreless innings, striking out three.

Three down

Gray wasn’t the only one to have a rough night on the bump. Scott Oberg was also torched by the Cardinals, surrendering three runs in two innings of work. The Colorado Rockies had pulled within 10-7 on a seventh-inning solo shot by Story but St. Louis iced the game when Matt Carpenter launched a 3-2 pitch from Oberg over the right-center wall to push the St. Louis advantage to 13-7.

Batting leadoff, Carpenter finished the night 3-for-5 with six RBI. Ouch.

Tony Wolters went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.

Next: Tyler Chatwood Early Contender for this NL Award

Carlos Gonzalez continued his slump, going 0-for-4. CarGo is now just 2-for-24 in his last seven games. After batting .330 in April with 12 RBI, Gonzalez is hitting just .194 in May. His only RBI of the month came on a solo homer against the New York Mets on May 15.

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Colorado Rockies: The Good and Bad from Thursday’s Loss

By Kevin Henry | May 20, 2016

Three up

Three down