With a thrilling 4-3 win Tuesday against St. Louis, the Rockies earned their first home series win of 2015 and stare down an opportunity to attain a sweep versus the Cardinals for the first time since July 2010. The win was also Colorado’s first series victory over St. Louis since July 20120.
Colorado faces the Cardinals, the best team in baseball (38-21), on Wednesday wrap up the three-game series at Coors Field.
Tuesday’s win raised the Rockies’ record to (27-30), moving them out of last place and past the Arizona Diamondbacks by a half-game in the NL West.
Great pitching and timely hitting has allowed the Rockies to contend with the league’s best, led by Nolan Arenado who notched a much needed two run-homer in the sixth inning to tie the ballgame, 2-2.
The game was scoreless until the fifth, when Cardinals outfielder Peter Bourjos singled to center to score Jon Jay. Later in the sixth inning, Jhonny Peralta hit a solo home run to right field to give St. Louis 2-0 lead.
On the mound for the Rockies was Jorge De La Rosa, who was returning in his second game back from a two-week hiatus because of a hand injury, according to the Denver Post.
De La Rosa’s brilliant changeups throughout the game, particularly in the sixth and seventh innings led to some big outs late in the game. De La Rosa finished allowing just three hits and two earned runs in seven innings. He struck out eight and walked two.
This was De La Rosa’s 72nd win as a Rockie, tying him with Aaron Cook for most wins in franchise history.
Bourjos tacked on one last run for the Cardinals when he hit a solo home run in the top of the eighth off Boone Logan.
The Rockies went ahead in the bottom of the seventh inning when D.J. LeMahieu doubled to center field scoring Wilin Rosario. Carlos Gonzalez followed with a single, scoring LeMahieu, the eventual winning run.
John Axford converted his 11th save in as many tries, allowing one walk and striking out one.
LeMeahieu finished 3-for-4 with an RBI while Gonzalez finished 2-for-4, also notching one RBI. Arenado had a great outing at the plate as well, going 2-for-4 with the home run and two RBI.
With a win Wednesday Colorado stays afloat in the standings, chasing down the San Diego Padres just two games ahead in the third spot in the NL West.
Mike Tolbert, a Mile High Sports intern and MSU-Denver student, contributed to this report