ST. LOUIS — Dylan Carlson drove in his first three runs of the season to help the St. Louis Cardinals come back from a four-run lead to beat the Colorado Rockies 8-5 on Friday night.
“It’s really good to see,” Cardinals coach Oliver Marmol said of Carlson. “He needed this. We needed this. I hope this is a step that allows him to play with more confidence.”
Carlson hit a two-run double down the right field line off Matt Carasiti (0-1) after Brendan Donovan put the Cardinals ahead with an RBI single up the middle in the eighth inning. Carlson, who was 2-for-4, also hit a run-scoring single in the sixth to tie it at 5 for his first RBI in 57 appearances this season.
“My spirits are really good,” Carlson said. “In this role, you just have to be ready when called upon and tonight was my night. I arrived with a good attitude and confidence in the work I did and here we are.”
John King, Andrew Kittredge and JoJo Romero (3-1) each pitched a scoreless inning of relief before Ryan Helsley pitched a perfect ninth for his major league-leading 21st save of the season.
Cardinals starter Lance Lynn allowed four runs and six hits with two walks and struck out six in four innings.
“The offense happened,” Lynn said. “The bullpen did its job down the stretch and it was a good win for the team. I have to close the beginning. In the last two games I threw the ball very well, but I didn’t make it past the fourth inning. So, despite everything, I have to improve. In terms of things, I’m there. I have to go deeper and I have to be better.”
Ryan McMahon doubled Kyle Leahy to lead off the fifth and scored on Alan Trejo’s single to put Colorado ahead 5-4.
Toglia tied it at 4 when his three-run triple down the right field line turned into a Little League grand slam when second baseman Nolan Gorman’s relay throw eluded third baseman Nolan Arenado in the top of the fourth for an error that allowed Toglia scores.
Rockies second baseman Brendan Rodgers left early in the inning with a left hamstring injury after visibly limping as he reached first base while attempting a fielder’s choice.
“Talking to Brendan right after the game here, he felt it a little bit when he was coming down the line and he stopped when he felt it,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. but we’ll see.”
Trejo pinch ran for Rodgers and remained in the game at second.
Rockies starter Austin Gomber allowed four runs and six hits in the first two innings but followed that up with three perfect innings.
“I thought they did a good job in the first inning, just stringing together hits,” Gomber said. “After the second, I managed to get into the rhythm a little and go past five. I feel like I had some issues in the first inning this year when I didn’t pitch well, so I’m trying to continue to work on focusing on getting out of the gate better.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rockies: OF Nolan Jones (lumbar strain) batted second and started in left field Friday night in Sacramento for Triple-A Albuquerque on a rehab assignment. It was Jones’ first game on the field after serving as Albuquerque’s designated hitter in their previous four games.
Cardinals: C Willson Contreras (fractured left arm) participated in a bullpen session and will begin hitting activities on Saturday after being cleared by the club’s medical staff.
NEXT
Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (1-5, 6.22 ERA) faces Cardinals RHP Kyle Gibson (4-2, 3.69 ERA) on Saturday.
___
This story originally appeared on ABCNews.go.com read the full story
