Welcome Back: Rockies' Descalso Gets Ovation In St. Louis
ST. LOUIS (AP) - Daniel Descalso could not believe his ears.
The Colorado infielder received a standing ovation from the St. Louis fans on his first trip to the plate during Thursday's 13-7 loss.
Descalso spent his first five seasons in St. Louis from to 2010-14 before he signed with Colorado as a free agent on Dec. 2, 2014.
"It was real nice," Descalso said. "I wasn't really expecting it."
Descalso received a similar response last season in his initial return to St. Louis.
The fans did it a second time on Thursday, which meant a lot to Descalso.
"These people were always great to me," he said. "Made a lot of good friends here. It was tough to leave."
The 30-second ovation was helped by St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina, who would not get back behind the plate until Descalso waved to the crowd.
Descalso responded to the third-inning at-bat by lining a single.
"They weren't cheering me that time," he kidded.
Descalso had two hits and drove in two runs in his first start since coming off the disabled May 13 due to a fractured left hand.
"The hand is fine," Descalso said. "I'm feeling good and glad to be back in the lineup."
Matt Carpenter homered and drove in a career-high six runs for the Cardinals.
St. Louis, which has won three of four, scored a season-high six runs in the fourth inning to take the lead for good.
Carpenter smashed a three-run homer in the eighth inning and also had a bases-loaded double in the fourth.
"I feel like our lineup is very flexible," Carpenter said. "Guys can hit in some different spots, including me."
Matt Adams drove in four runs with a pair of two-run singles in the first and fourth.
Trevor Story hit his 12th home run of the season for the Rockies, a solo shot in the seventh. He had three hits.
Colorado has lost two straight after a five-game winning streak that ended in a 2-0 loss to St. Louis on Wednesday.
Tyler Lyons (1-0) allowed one run over three innings in relief of Michael Wacha, who gave up eight hits and six runs in four innings. Wacha came into the game on a career-high, four-game losing streak.
"The offense came up big tonight," Wacha said. "We really needed it after the way my start went. The first couple of innings, I was hitting my spots. That fourth inning got away from me."
Colorado starter Jon Gray (1-2) gave up nine runs and eight hits over 3 1/3 innings.
"No command of any pitch," Gray said. "I felt strong physically. I just got outside of my delivery and didn't put the ball where it was supposed to be."
Adams had a two-run single to highlight a three-run first inning. He triggered the big fourth inning with a two-run single that pushed the lead to 10-6.
"I think it was a case of the mentality of not trying to do too much when you're up there," Adams said. "Get a pitch you can get the barrel on and then pass it on to the next guy."
Colorado scored four times in the fourth to take a 6-4 lead. Descalso's two-run single was the big hit and Gray added an RBI hit.
"We battled, we got back into it, took the lead and then let it get away," Descalso said.
The Rockies, who have lost 19 of their last 24 games in St. Louis, allowed 10 or more runs for the sixth time this season.
"Trevor hits that home run, makes it a (10-7) game, I still like our chances at that point," Colorado manager Walt Weiss said.
St. Louis has scored 10 or more runs nine times this season, matching its total from last year.
Rockies reliever Christian Bergman was removed after the fourth inning after pulling an oblique muscle.
"It didn't sound too good," Weiss said.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rockies: LHP Tyler Matzek has been sent to Class-A Modesto to begin a rehab assignment. Matzek was placed on the DL on April 3 with anxiety issues. ... RHP Miguel Castro was activated from the 15-day DL and has been sent to Triple-A Albuquerque. Castro, bothered by right shoulder inflammation, will make several appearances in an effort to build up his strength.
Cardinals: INF Jhonny Peralta, who has been out since March after undergoing surgery on his left thumb, will begin a rehab assignment on Friday at Class-A Peoria.
UP NEXT
Rockies: RHP Eddie Butler (2-1, 4.74) will face Pittsburgh RHP Gerrit Cole (4-3, 3.05) in the first of a three-game series in Pittsburgh on Friday. It is the fourth game of a nine-game trip for the Rockies.
Cardinals: RHP Carlos Martinez (4-3, 3.14) will take on Arizona LHP Patrick Corbin (1-3, 4.14) in the first of a three-game set on Friday. Martinez has lost three successive starts for the first time in his career.
By STEVE OVERBEY, Associated Press
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