The Cardinals ground out an 8:10 victory over the Rockies on Saturday evening, closing out a three-game series in Denver. Colorado had taken the opener 10:7 before losing the second game 6:7, but the visitors put together the most complete offensive showing on this trip to take the decider.
And here's the thing about this series — it was never going to be one-sided. Both teams have been trading wins and losses all September, with neither side able to string together more than two consecutive results. The Rockies split their doubleheader on Tuesday against Baltimore before dropping three straight to St Louis.
The Cardinals' hitters were everywhere, putting runs on the board when it mattered. By then they had already shown they could answer back after Colorado's early push, keeping their heads when the game looked tight. That old head of theirs settled them down when the pressure mounted.
We had called for the visitors to come out on top in this one, with about 55 per cent confidence. The data pointed that way — St Louis had won three of their last five while Colorado had dropped three of five, and the Cardinals' recent form against division rivals suggested they could edge a close contest.
The series sweep means the Cardinals finish their road trip with momentum, something they needed after dropping back-to-back games to the Dodgers earlier in the week. Colorado's bullpen will have questions to answer after giving up runs in bunches, while St Louis can take heart from finally putting together a complete performance.