7 elite performances from St. Louis Cardinals sweep over Rockies

The St. Louis Cardinals needed a jolt of inspiration, and they appeared to get that this week as they swept their three-game set against the Colorado Rockies. 

What a fantastic series the Cardinals had this week against the Colorado Rockies. After losing their series in Denver last week, this seemed to be something the Cardinals needed. The Cardinals won Tuesday 5-4, Wednesday 5-1, and Thursday 13-0.

The club worked together as a team and took care of business against a previous team they seemed flummoxed by. The win is a good jump start as the Cardinals travel west for a three-game set this weekend against the Arizona Diamondbacks and off to Chicago for five games in four days starting Monday.

All of the upcoming series seems so crucial to the Cardinals’ season. Get your popcorn ready!

Let’s discuss the perfectly positive moments from this week’s series with the Rockies.

Everything about Thursday’s Game was perfect

That’s right. Everything about Thursday’s game was perfect. It was a great game from Adam Wainwright to Albert Pujols and Lars Nootbaar.

Wainwright and Yadier Molina had their 320th start as a battery, making them five starts away from breaking a record held by Mickey Lolich and Bill Freehan of the Detroit Tigers at 324 starts. Wainwright is now 9-8 on the season after pitching seven innings Thursday, giving up only three hits and striking out seven while inducing eight swings and misses.

Genesis Cabrera and Chris Stratton each had a clean inning of relief of Wainwright.

The scoring onslaught began for the Cardinals in the first inning. Paul Goldschmidt singled on a grounder to right field, scoring Lars Nootbaar. Nolan Arenado grounded out to first base, scoring Brendan Donovan. Tyler O’Neill singled on a liner to right field, scoring Goldschmidt.

Donovan singled to first base in the second inning, scoring Tommy Edman. Goldschmidt doubled on a fly to left field and deflected by center fielder, Garrett Hampson, scoring Donovan.  Carlson singled to center field in the third inning, scoring Nolan Gorman.

Later in the third inning, with O’Neill, Carlson and Nootbaar on base, Albert Pujols launched a grand slam home run to left field. The blast was the 11th of this season and the 690th of his legendary career.

Just a beautiful swing. The home run traveled 374 feet at 105.1 mph. What a legend!

In the fifth inning, Nootbaar knocked his sixth home run of the season a liner to right field, scoring Carlson. In the seventh inning, Pujols singled to left field, scoring Edman.

Just a fantastic game for the Cardinals. Now let’s look at some other individual performances from this series.

Paul Goldschmidt continues MVP campaign

Goldschmidt knocked his 29th home run of the season on a fly to left field in the fifth inning Tuesday, scoring O’Neill. The homer traveled 371 feet at 108.3 mph.

Goldschmidt knocked a sacrifice fly to left field in the seventh inning, scoring Corey Dickerson.

Tommy Edman is getting back on track

Tommy Edman hit his eighth home run of the season in the fourth inning Tuesday on a fly to center field. Edman’s home run traveled 417 feet at 106.5 mph. It was great to see him get a big hit for the team.

Tyler O’Neill finds a unique way to win

It was the bottom of the ninth in Tuesday game with the score tied at 4. The Rockies’ newly acquired pitcher Dinelson Lamet was on the mound. The inning started out with walks to Andrew Knizer and Lars Nootbaar.

Dylan Carlson then singled on a bunt grounder to the pitcher, moving Knizner to third base and Nootbaar to second. With the bases loaded, O’Neill came to bat.

Yes, Lamet hit O’Neill on the elbow pad to score Knizner on the jaw-dropping walk-off hit by pitch.

Unreal!

Montgomery, Pallante, and Gallegos have outstanding outings

It’s easy to see the Cardinals won the trade between them and the New York Yankees that swapped Harrison Bader for Jordan Montgomery.

Montgomery won his third game since joining the Cardinals. He is now 6-3 on the season. He pitched 5.2 innings, giving up six hits and one earned run. He struck out eight batters and induced 11 swings and misses.

Montgomery has been impressive since joining the Cardinals. It is great to see.

Andre Pallante entered the game to get the last out of the sixth inning. He earned his sixth hold of the season, pitching 2.1 innings. He struck out two batters and induced two swings and misses.

Giovanny Gallegos pitched an inning, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out one and inducing three swings and misses.