Albert Pujols lifted a three run homer, his 12th of the season, in the seventh inning to help the Cardinals get the best of the Rockies 5-4 in the series opener in Denver. Pujols took Rockies reliever—and former Royals pitcher—Jay Witasick deep with David Eckstein and Roger Cedeno on base to give them a 4-3 lead.
St. Louis had to overcome two deficits to get the victory. Desi Relaford gave Colorado a 1-0 led in the fifth when he scored on Yadier Molina’s throwing error. A Rockies fielding error allowed Pujols to score in the sixth inning to tie the game at 1-1.
Colorado enjoyed its final lead of the game in the sixth inning when Preston Wilson scored on a wild pitch from Jason Marquis. Matt Sullivan drove in Cory Holliday with an infield single and the Rockies were up 3-1.
The Cardinals and Rockies traded runs in the eighth inning for the 5-4 final.
Marquis lasted six innings and was charged with two runs off four hits and three walks to improve to 6-3 on the season. Brad Thompson, Julian Tavarez and Jason Isringhausen all pitched an inning of relief and all three allowed one hit. Thompson was charged with the run in the eighth. Isringhausen was able to work around a hit and a walk to earn his 15th save.
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