Rockies 1 - 6 Cardinals
Final
  for this game

Cardinals score five in sixth, down Rockies

Aug 13, 2011 - 4:35 AM

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St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Kyle Lohse turned in a strong start, and his RBI single punctuated a big sixth inning that led the Cardinals to a 6-1 victory over the Rockies.

Lohse (10-7) allowed just one run in 6 1/3 innings -- a homer by Carlos Gonzalez -- and pitched into the seventh for the first time since July 8. He gave up four hits, walked three and struck out three.

David Freese drove in three runs to lead the offense as the Cardinals opened this three-game series with a strong showing. They dropped the first two games of their previous set, against Milwaukee, before avoiding a sweep with a win Thursday.

Aaron Cook (2-7) allowed six runs in 5 2/3 innings to take the loss, Colorado's third in a row. Cook called the result "aggravating," saying he pitched well.

"They were hitting a lot of balls hard on the ground right in front of the plate, and I came back up here and looked at it," Cook said. "I was making my pitches. There's nothing I would change about tonight, except for the outcome."

The game was tied, 1-1, after Freese's RBI single in the second inning and Gonzalez's leadoff homer in the fourth.

But the Cardinals broke the contest wide open in the sixth. The inning started with singles by Rafael Furcal and Jon Jay, and Albert Pujols' base hit to right plated a run.

After Matt Holliday doubled in Jay, Lance Berkman was intentionally walked to load the bases -- still with nobody out.

Freese then delivered a bouncing ball through the left side of the infield, allowing two more runs to cross the plate. Lohse's two-out hit got Freese home for a 6-1 game, and chased Cook.

"We bounced a ball over the third baseman's head, bounced a ball in the hole," said Cardinals manager Tony La Russa. "I think [Cook] continued to throw the ball well. The ball found some holes for us, and we accept them, but say thanks."

Lohse retired the first batter the following inning, but was pulled after allowing a single to Chris Iannetta. Jason Motte recorded the final two outs of the inning, and Kyle McClellan pitched the following two frames to secure the win.

Game Notes

Lohse had pitched only three innings in his last start...Berkman walked three times...The Rockies have lost their last five games in St. Louis...The Cardinals on Friday signed veteran reliever Arthur Rhodes to a major league contract, optioned catcher Tony Cruz to Triple-A Memphis and designated Memphis pitcher Raul Valdes for assignment to make room for Rhodes on the 40- man roster.






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