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The Cardinals overcome Lefty-itis to coach the Rockies’ pitching for 4 hours, but the Rockies score 5 runs with two outs in the eighth and win 10-8.

Pre-game notes

• Assessment of the 2024 season and planning for 2025 have begun in earnest. Will be a fascinating offseason.
• I’m in Denver to watch this game in person. Part of my plan to accompany the Cardinals on their final road trip. I was hoping these games would be meaningful, but the venues are great, even if championship ambitions are dead. It’s sunny and almost 90 F.
• I followed Chase Davis’ journey through the minors. He got off to a pretty flat start at Low-A Palm Beach this year, but something seemed to take hold. He passed through Peoria in about 30 days and made it to AA Springfield in time to advance to the playoffs. It almost seemed like he did better at climbing…more assertive, if you will. He is now a prospect with some performance under his belt, rather than just a hype prospect.

Lineup (and roster) Machinations

• There are hardly any changes in the squad these days. Just about everyone on the 40-man roster has appeared at the MLB level this year. I think Robberse is the only one who didn’t do that, and he probably would have if he hadn’t been injured for much of the season. He’s just back at AAA.
• Gibson is on the mound for the Cardinals. I suspect we’ll see Matz too. Freeland for CO. Oh good. A left-handed person…
• Fermin comes in for Arenado at 3b. Scott is now suffering from CF. Noot bats 2. Interesting.

The game

T1 – Reasons for victory out. Noot destroys an HR department! Then Goldy double crushes you!! Herrera K. Walker doubles from the base of the CF wall. Saggese BB. Pages K. Cards take a 2-0 lead with a rare breakout in the first inning.

B1 – Hats off to Blackmon. Then e4 becomes a retirement gift. Then K. Walk. Then Walker doesn’t catch the ball hit directly. Today’s sunny field today. Rattle! E-9. Later they change this to a hit. Then double the RF wall. Tied up. All runs are undeserved. K. 6-3 after a sharp game from Winn ends the chaos. Now 2:2.

T2 – Fermin 3u. Scott Line Drive Single. Winn puts a hit over LFerr’s head for an RBI. LFerr kind of wheezed. Noot doubles into the gap for another RBI. Goldy hits one on LFer and he sniffs again. This time e7. Noot scores. No RBI there? Herrera hits K back again. Walker rolls out 6-3. Cards are 5-2.

B2 -F7. Singles. Blackmon 2-Run HR. This will be one of those days!! Walker with a nice tumbling catch on a low liner. K. Cards are now 5-4 high.

T3 – Sags jumps out. Page number 4-3. Fermin f8.

B3 – Go ahead. One pitch later GIDP. This is SO Gibson. Another walk. K ends the inning.

T4 – Scott singles to the left. Then he will be picked up. That’s why they’re called “newbies,” Shannon would say. Winn K. Noot is eliminated 4:3. The cards are still 5-4.

B4 – Double. 4-3 advances the runner. SacFly for Blackmon. K. Now the score is 5:5.

T5 – Goldy out with 5-3. Herrera with a bomb! After the review, the Walkers’ hit is off the wall for a double. Freeland is ready. Bird in. Falls out 5-3. Pages k. Now 6-5 cards.

B5 – as expected, Matze for Gibson. Q7. Singles. 4-3 Squibber advances bishop. K

T6 – Fermin colorful single. Scott is eliminated 5:3. Fermin moves up to third place with PB. Winn k. Of course with a runner on third and one out. Not a great record approach. Pitcher threw a strike in this AB. Nootbaar F9.

B6 – f5 executes. Not a great throw from Fermin. 1-3 advances the runner to second place. Sacbunt advances the runner to third. Why? 4-3 ends the inning. Matz Velo 95+ in this innings. It’s been a while.

T7 – Vodnik in. Goldy K at 100 miles per hour. This pitcher is truly wild. Over the head of Goldy and Herrera. His change is 92!!! Herrera leaves. Walker GIDP.

B7 – King in. Single. single. GIDP. King out. Fernandez in. Line out to 4 puts an end to things quickly. The cards are still 6-5.

T8 – Vodnik out. Chivilli in. Says a single to the left. Pages 2-Run HR! Fermin K. Scott sets off. Win f9. The cards are now 8-5.

B8 – Fernandez stays in. KK triple into the cavernous gap in left center. This ball rolled for a week. RBI single. Go. Two run double. Fernandez out. Leahy in. RBI double in the first pitch gives the Rockies the lead. Another double whammy. F9 ends the attack. Now 10-8 Rockies.

T9 – Halvorsen in Noot F7. Goldy K. Donovan PH. Singles. Burleson PH. F7 ends it. Rox wins.

Post-Game Notes (and Random Musings)

Collecting both Liberators. and Romero not available today. They would have had the eighth inning.

Winn’s .314 OBP doesn’t seem like a great fit for the starting spot.

It’s remarkable how poorly the Rockies’ hitters perform, especially in this hitter’s paradise.

There isn’t much aftermath today. I have grandchildren who are a little impatient waiting for me.