7.30.15 Rockies @ Cardinals Recap: Cards Win on Walkoff Walk, 9-8

I will not delve into great detail about today’s trade – there is a 2000-comment VEB Daily thread that can give you all the information and opinions you could possibly want.  But I will say this: I went from being angry, to being annoyed, to being disappointed, to being mostly indifferent.  I believe these are the recognized Four Stages of Prospect Grieving.  I got here because I generally trust John Mozeliak, and while no move may have been the better move, I think the future will support my current state of mind.

The Game

The Rockies scored right out of the gate on a single by new Colorado Rocky(ie?) Jose Reyes and a double by Nolan Arenado – but not before Charlie Blackmon’s single was erased when he was caught stealing by seven-time gold glove winner Yadier Molina.  Carlos Martinez escaped the inning with only one run scored, striking out both Carlos Gonzalez and Corey Dickerson.

The Cardinals got that run back in the bottom of the first inning with a single-double combination of their own: newly re-re-minted lead off hitter Matt Carpenter beat the shift for a seeing-eye single through the right side, and future Hall-of-Famer Randal Grichuk followed with a double to left field.  Carpenter didn’t score there, but did score on Kolten Wong’s ground out on the next play.  Tie game.

The alternate title for this recap could have been "The One Where Matt Carpenter Returned."  In the bottom of the second inning, with Yadier Molina and Steven Piscotty on base, the Galveston Grinder hit his 11th home run of the year – a shot to straightaway center field on a breaking ball that never broke.  4-1 Cardinals.

Things got a little dicey after that.  Colorado tied the game in the fourth inning on a home run by Chris Rusin (who???), and again in the fifth after a couple of singles and a fielding error.  But, the Cardinals tied it 5-5 in the bottom of the inning, as the Matt Carpenter Show continued with a solo home run.  Later that inning, Jason Heyward tripled home Jhonny Peralta, who scored to make it 6-5 Cardinals.

El Gallo left after five innings, allowing 5 runs on 10 hits and striking out 6.  The bullpen, unfortunately, did not hold the lead for long.  Seth Maness gave up a home run in the sixth to Nick Hundley to re-tie the game 6-6. Kevin Siegrist gave up a run in the eighth after a series of plays that should not have resulted in a run - which included a fielding error by Siegrist on a bunt attempt, putting runners on the corners with one out.  Another run scored on, according to Gameday, a "caught stealing error" by Siegrist.  I have to admit, I didn't see this inning and I don't know what that means.  But it allowed Blackmon to score and brought the Rockies' lead to 8-6 heading into the bottom of the ninth.

But remember what I said earlier about it being the Matt Carpenter Show and all?  As if on cue, Marp hit a ground rule double to lead off the inning.  Just like the old days, baby!  John Axford came in to close the game, but things did not go exactly as planned.  Instead, Grichuk walked, Wong loaded the bases with a single, and Peralta hit a line drive to tie the game 8-8.  Kozma, who came in to pinch run, stole second base, and the Rockies walked Heyward to load the bases.  Yadi was up next, facing a five-man infield, and worked a 3-0 count.  It looked promising, but he ultimately popped out to shallow right field.  Never fear, walk-off hero Greg Garcia was waiting on deck.  In super dramatic fashion, he drew a walk and won the game!  Final score: 9-8 Cardinals.

Additional Notes

1. Matt M.F. Carpenter.  Despite his serious recent struggles, Mike Matheny moved him back to the leadoff spot this evening.  I am honestly wondering if that is the last time he has to move in this lineup.  As if being awoken from a long slumber, Carpenter came alive, going 4-for-5 and hitting two home runs, a double, and a single.  After his first home run, the announcers remarked that it had been a long time since they had seen him smile.  Here's hoping this is the beginning of many more Marp smiles.

2. Kozma came into the game in the bottom of the ninth, in a tie game, with the winning run in Kolten Wong at third base.  I...don't understand.  Kozma's run didn't matter.  If we went into extra innings and lost our best hitter, that would be bad.  I invite the commenters to explain to me why this move made any sort of sense.  I get you want a fast runner at third in case there's a force at home, and Wong gets thrown out, but why not just wait until that actually happens?  Because if there are three strikeouts in a row, or two strikeouts and an infield pop up, you are going into extra innings with Pete Kozma batting clean up, people.

3. Brandon Moss got a couple of plate appearances tonight.  He popped out and struck out.  Welcome to St. Louis, dude.

4. Kyle Kendrick v. Michael Wacha at 7:15 CT tomorrow.  Be there or be...somewhere else.  That's cool, too.