This time, at least, there was a robust rally.
But ultimately the Rockies’ song remained the same: a loss. This one an agonizing 6-5 defeat to the Cardinals tonight at Coors Field.
For 8 1/3 innings the Rockies were stymied by St. Louis starter Braden Looper, who gave up 10 hits but just two runs.
The Rockies never mounted much of a threat until Chris Iannetta doubled off the right-field wall in the ninth, scoring Todd Helton and Ryan Spilborghs. Iannetta came home on Clint Barmes’ double, cutting the Cardinals’ lead to 6-5. But Jeff Baker flied out to center to end the game.
St. Louis, the National League Central leaders, won for the sixth time in seven games. The Rockies lost for the eighth time in 10 games, plummeting nine games under .500 (12-21). They are 1-4 on the current homestand.
The evening began with Rockies starter Mark Redman giving up five runs in the first three innings.
After another spotty performance, Redman’s days as a starter could be numbered. The numbers explain why. He gave up nine hits in 2 2/3 innings, his ERA ballooning to 7.84. Looper smashed two hits off Redman, a double in the second and a run-scoring single in the third.
There were a couple of tidbits of good news scattered among the ashes of Colorado’s latest loss. Iannetta, starting for the third straight game, continued pounding the ball. He smoked a line drive over the left-field fence to lead off the fifth. His third homer of the season cut the Cardinals’ lead to 5-2. He finished the night 2-for-3 with three RBIs. He’s hitting .362.
Reliever Jason Grilli shut down St. Louis after Redman’s shaky start. Grilli worked 3 1/3 innings, allowing just one hit and striking out five.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
