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Even the excitement of a Little League grand slam couldn’t save the Rockies from an inevitable defeat on Friday at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals beat the Rockies on the second night of the four-game series, as St. Louis got to Colorado pitchers early and then late in the game. After Austin Gomber’s rough opening, the Cardinals’ decisive swings came by tagging Matt Carasiti for a three-run eighth. In the defeat, the Rockies were subpar in clutch situations, finishing the game 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position while stranding nine runners. Gomber, owner of an unsightly 8.18 ERA in the first inning this year entering Friday, continued that trend. The Cardinals scored three in the opening inning off the southpaw via Paul Goldschmidt’s RBI infield single, Nolan Arenado’s sacrifice fly and Nolan Gorman’s RBI single to center.

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