St. Louis Cardinals fall 6-2 to Colorado Rockies

The St. Louis Cardinals fell 6-2 to the Colorado Rockies after a four-run eighth inning.
Sep 15, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Matt Carpenter (13) hits a 2 rbi single against the Seattle Mariners during the fourth inning at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Mariners 12-2. Image Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports
One could call it a wasted start by Lance Lynn with the San Diego Padres having beaten the Pittsburgh Pirates earlier in the evening. Lynn pitched 6.1 innings. He allowed six hits, two runs, one walk, and struck out four batters.

Trevor Rosenthal was the pitcher of record when the Cardinals lost the tie in the bottom of the eighth inning. John Axford replaced him and finished out the inning but not before two more runners reached home.

In the fifth inning, David Freese singled and drove in Matt Adams.

In the top of the eighth inning, Matt Carpenter had his 51st double of the season and drove in Pete Kozma. Carpenter is now in a four-way tie in the Cardinals single-season record book with 51 doubles. Stan Musial hit 51 in 1944 while Albert Pujols hit 51 in both the 2003 and 2004 seasons. Next up is a two-way tie for fourth place between Tip O’Neill (1887) and Enos Slaughter (1939) with 52 doubles. Musial also holds the third-most doubles for a Cardinal with 53 two-baggers. Joe Medwick owns the top two spots as Ducky hit 56 in 1937 and 64 in 1936.

With 12 games remaining, it is easily conceivable that Carpenter tops Musial for the third spot.

In the batting title race, Carpenter’s 2 hits extends his lead (.321) over teammate Yadier Molina (.317) but remains fifth in the National League.

Some news and notes:
*Today is the 76th birthday of Orlando Cepeda

*St. Louis Post-Dispatch sports columnist Joe Strauss spoke to longtime Cardinals broadcaster Mike Shannon about his recent heart surgery.