ST. LOUIS _ Matt Carpenter got Mike Shildt's team off to a flying start with a leadoff home run, but rocky pitching and underwhelming offense halted any Cardinals momentum Tuesday. The team lost 6-3 to the Rockies.
Starter Jack Flaherty looked dominant through four innings, but he allowed a two-run shot to Charlie Blackmon in the fifth, giving the Rockies a 2-1 lead.
The Cardinals' righty came back out for the sixth and got MVP-candidate Nolan Arenado to fly out to left. He then ran into trouble. Carlos Gonzalez walked, and Trevor Story doubled to score a run. Story's hit knocked Flaherty out of the game.
Chasen Shreve made his Cardinals debut in relief of Flaherty and immediately gave up a flare double to Gerardo Parra, plating another run. The lefty settled in after the soft hit. He did not allow an earned run in one inning pitched.
Carlos Gonzalez tacked onto the Rockies' lead with a two-run home run of John Brebbia in the seventh.
The Cardinals loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth and scored a run on a Carpenter sacrifice fly. With Yadier Molina up next, Rockies reliever Seung Hwan Oh threw a wild pitch, allowing Dexter Fowler to advance to third. Catcher Tom Murphy threw wildly to third, letting Fowler come home for a run.
Tyler O'Neill had two hits in the loss for the Cardinals.
