The symbol for the high-flying St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night was center fielder Rick Ankiel throwing out Willy Taveras in the first inning, and then Omar Quintanilla in the eighth, with otherworldly throws to third base.
The symbol for the hapless Rockies was starter Mark Redman, trudging off the mound to a smattering of boos from the patrons at Coors Field.
After the Rockies’ 6-5 loss, manager Clint Hurdle neatly summed up why the Rockies are tied with the San Diego Padres for the worst record in baseball at 12-21, and why the Cardinals are leading the National League Central.
“When everything all works together, like what’s happening over on the other side right now, the game is fun,” Hurdle said. “The game is hard for us right now.”
No kidding.
The Rockies lost for the eighth time in 10 games, plummeting nine games under .500, matching their low-water mark of the 2007 season.
This time, at least, there was a robust rally.
For 8 1/3 innings the Rockies were stymied by St. Louis starter Braden Looper, who gave up 10 hits but just four runs in improving to 5-1.
The Rockies never mounted much of a threat until catcher Chris Iannetta doubled to the right-center field wall in the ninth off reliever Ryan Franklin. Iannetta’s bash scored Todd Helton and Ryan Spilborghs. For one of the few times all night, the voice of Rockies fans could be heard over the many Redbirds fans in attendance. When Iannetta came home on Clint Barmes’ double, the Cardinals’ lead was cut to 6-5. There was even a hint of “Rocktober” magic in the air. But it quickly vanished when Jeff Baker flied out to Ankiel to end the game.
The evening began with Redman giving up five runs in the first three innings. All the runs Redman surrendered came with two outs, continuing another disturbing trend for Rockies pitchers.
After another spotty performance, Redman’s days as a starter could be numbered. The numbers explain why. Once again, the location pitcher lacked location. He gave up nine hits in 2 2/3 innings, his ERA ballooning to 7.84. Over his last two starts, Redman has allowed 15 earned runs in just 8 2/3 innings (a 15.58 ERA). The opposing pitcher, Looper, smashed two hits off Redman, a double in the second and a run-scoring single in the third.
Asked if he had pitched himself out of the rotation, Redman said, “I have no idea.”
Hurdle’s take on Redman: “It’s not what we need.”
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 to pound 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, boosting his average to .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
TODAY: Cardinals at Rockies, 6:35 p.m., FSN
Hard to believe, but it’s May 7 and Rockies left-hander Jeff Francis (0-3, 5.26 ERA) is winless. Tonight Francis squares off against Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright (3-1, 2.60). The problem is, Francis hasn’t pitched like an ace very often this season. Wainwright has. The former reliever is 2-0 with a 0.87 ERA in five games (one start) against the Rockies. Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
Thursday:
Cardinals’ Kyle Lohse (3-1, 3.79 ERA) vs. Rockies’ Jorge de la Rosa (0-1, 20.25), 1:05 p.m., FSN
Friday:
Rockies’ Aaron Cook (5-1, 2.40) vs. Padres’ Jake Peavy (4-1, 2.22), 8:05 p.m., FSN
Saturday:
Rockies’ Ubaldo Jimenez (1-2, 5.82) vs. Padres’ G. Maddux (2-3, 4.09), 8:05 p.m., FSN
Sunday:
Rockies’ Mark Redman (2-3, 7.84) vs. Padres’ Chris Young (2-3, 4.31), 2:05 p.m., KTVD
