ST. LOUIS _ Jose Martinez came off the bench to deliver a two-run single with one out in the ninth, giving the Cardinals a 3-2 win over Colorado and their first back-to-back series wins since mid-May.
The Thursday afternoon game drew a crowd at 41,478 at Busch Stadium.
With one out in the ninth, Greg Garcia singled and Harrison Bader followed with a hit to right that allowed Garcia to take third. After a Bader steal, Martinez lined the ball to gap in right center for the first walk-off RBI of his career.
The Cardinals won 5-4 on Monday and 6-3 on Wednesday. The Rockies posted a 6-3 victory on Tuesday.
"This series, to be able to accomplish what we did against a team that's not only good but playing really well," infielder Matt Carpenter said. "They came in hot and we matched up really in every phase of the game. It's a real confidence-booster for us and hopefully helps us get on a little bit of a roll now."
The Cardinals begin a nine-game road trip Friday that will take them to Pittsburgh, Miami and Kansas City. Newly acquired Chris Archer is expected to make his Pirates' debut against the Redbirds on Friday night.
"We just have to go out Friday ready to play against another team that's been hot and that is (the playoff hunt) as well," Carpenter said.
The Cardinals broke through in the third inning on Thursday. Starting pitcher Miles Mikolas opened the inning with a bloop single to right and advanced when Carpenter hit a 3-2 pitch over the shift into center. Mikolas alertly and aggressively took third on a wild pitch during an extended at-bat from Yadier Molina and scored on a deep flyout to left from Tyler O'Neill.
The Rockies responded right away. Nolan Arenado led off the visitors' fourth with a single and Carlos Gonzalez followed with a bunt hit. On a sinking liner down the right-field line from Trevor Story, O'Neill came up with a brilliant diving grab as Arenado advanced. Gerardo Parra's single to left tied the game at 1 as Gonzalez was thrown out at third by Marcell Ozuna.
Ian Desmond followed with a chopper up the third-base line that Mikolas fielded and then threw wildly past first. The error allowed Parra to score an unearned run, giving the Rockies a 2-1 lead.
The Cardinals threatened in the sixth without benefit of a hit. O'Neill worked a walk after falling behind 0-2 to open the inning. Two flyouts later, Yairo Munoz swung at a two-strike pitch in the dirt and Rockies catcher Tony Wolters inexplicably fired the ball into center field, allowing O'Neill to race to third. After Garcia was hit by pitch to load the bases, Bader laced two foul balls past third and another straight back before being punched out by the first-base umpire on an 0-2 check-swing to end the threat.
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