Cardinals Survive Late Rockies Surge Behind Wetherholt’s Go-Ahead Double

Sunday’s matchup between the Colorado Rockies and St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium delivered exactly what you’d expect from a baseball game where the better team prevails, even if the script got a bit messy along the way. The Cardinals won 7-4, but don’t let that final margin fool you. This was a game the Rockies had every opportunity to steal, and they nearly did before St. Louis’ veteran composure saved the day in the eighth inning.

The Rockies came to play early, with Hunter Goodman setting the tone in the first inning with a sharp line drive single that scored Jake McCarthy. It was the kind of aggressive approach that had Colorado looking dangerous from the opening pitch. But here’s the thing about playing in St. Louis: the Cardinals don’t panic, and they don’t stay quiet for long. Jordan Walker answered immediately with his own RBI single in the bottom of the first, and suddenly it was a ballgame.

What followed was a masterclass in incremental scoring. The Cardinals methodically built their advantage through the middle innings, with Jimmy Crooks sacrificing a run home in the third, followed by Masyn Winn’s RBI double that extended the lead. Then came Alec Burleson‘s 441-foot bomb in the fifth inning, a towering fly ball that made it clear this Cardinals lineup wasn’t going to be pushed around. That solo homer demonstrated the kind of power St. Louis has been featuring all season, and it looked like the game was getting away from Colorado.

But the Rockies refused to fold, which is where Brett Sullivan comes in. The Colorado slugger blasted a two-run homer in the sixth that suddenly made it a one-run game again. Hunter Goodman followed suit with his own solo shot in the eighth, and just like that, the Rockies had clawed back to within three runs. This is vintage playoff baseball intensity in August, folks. Both teams trading haymakers, both lineups showing legitimate thunder.

The eighth inning proved to be the turning point, and not in the way Colorado wanted. JJ Wetherholt delivered a go-ahead two-run double that proved to be the dagger, with Iván Herrera following up with an RBI single that essentially sealed the outcome. Herrera finished 4-for-5 on the day, a masterful display of hitting that highlighted just how difficult it is to retire this Cardinals lineup when they’re in rhythm.

Rockies Had Their Chances, But Couldn’t Convert

Here’s where I have to be honest about Colorado’s performance: Tanner Gordon got roughed up early, lasting only 3.1 innings while giving up four hits and two earned runs. That’s your ballgame right there. You’re not winning in St. Louis when your starting pitcher can’t get out of the fourth inning. The Rockies’ offense was respectable, but they needed more than two home runs to steal a road game against a division opponent.

Cardinals Close It Out Despite Relief Concerns

George Soriano got the win despite pitching only one inning, which tells you everything you need to know about how chaotic this game became. Riley O'Brien closed it out for the save, dealing a clean ninth to preserve the victory. It wasn’t pretty, but it was effective, and that’s all that matters in August baseball.

Sunday belonged to St. Louis because when it mattered most, the Cardinals had the better hitter at the plate. That’s baseball. That’s also why you play all 162 games.