The Cardinals claimed a 7-6 victory over the Rockies in a regular-season meeting at Coors Field on Friday. The result came as a surprise to many, including those who backed the visitors at 51 per cent confidence. By then, the Rockies had already shown they could score in bunches.
Colorado's recent form suggested they were finding their rhythm. They had beaten the Orioles 6-5 and 4-2 before dropping two straight, while the Cardinals were coming off a three-game sweep of the Dodgers. To be fair, both sides were putting runs on the board regularly.
The nine-run margin tells you only half the story. This is Coors Field, after all, where the ball travels further and the roof stays open. And here's the thing — you don't need a spreadsheet to see what happened. Both teams stretched each other, traded blows, and neither pitcher lasted long enough to settle into a groove.
The Rockies will look at this one and wonder about the late innings. They scored six runs, which is respectable anywhere, but it wasn't enough against a Cardinals lineup that found another gear when it mattered. The visitors have been running out of games now, with September tightening things up.
What this means in the wider picture is that neither team has anything to prove yet. The standings don't tell the whole story of who's peaking and who's fading. But you can tell from the scoreline that the Cardinals have the deeper bench and can spring a surprise when expected to fold.