Shelby Miller allowed a single to start the game and then retired 27 consecutive batters Friday in a gem that brought St. Louis a 3-0 win over Colorado.
Eric Young lined a 3-1 pitch to right field to open the Colorado first inning and Miller (5-2) was perfect the rest of the way. He threw 113 pitches, 84 of them for strikes, and fanned 13.
It was the first complete game and first shutout in Miller’s career, which consists of eight starts and 13 appearances over two seasons with the Cardinals. He lowered his earned run average to 1.58 for the year.
The 22-year-old Miller also gave up just one hit in seven innings while picking up a win against Milwaukee on April 12.
Pete Kozma singled in the first St. Louis run in the second, Carlos Beltran hit a home run in the third and Jon Jay delivered a sacrifice fly in the fifth.
The loss went to Jon Garland (3-3), who gave up all three runs on seven hits in five innings. It was Colorado’s third straight setback.